1. What do we learn about the Duke based on his language choices?
My Last Duchess- Browning
23 September, September, 2019
‘That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall, / Looking as if she were alive.’
Mini Starter
Based on these quotations spoken by the Duke, what is his impression of his Duchess?
‘She had / A heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad, /Too easily impressed;’
‘Sir, ’twas not /Her husband’s presence only, called that spot / Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek’
‘she liked whate’er / She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.’
CHALLENGE
What do we learn about the Duke based on his language choices?
‘She thanked men,—good! but thanked / Somehow—I know not how’
Background picture by Moyan Brenn on Flickr:
Must:
Understand and be able to thoughtfully explain the meaning and main themes of the poem.
(AO1)
Should:
Explore and consider multiple interpretations of the poem.
(AO1/AO2)
Could:
Analyse the language, form and structure of the poem.
(AO2)

2. Context: Browning
Robert Browning ( ) was a very popular Victorian poet. He is best known for his dramatic monologues- poems that tell a story written in a characters voice. The narrator of ‘My Last Duchess’ was in fact a real historical figure- Alonso, the Duke of the Italian city of Ferrara in the years 1559 to The Duchess that he is looking at in the painting was the first of his three wives, Lucrezia de’ Medici, who died only two years after their marriage, in suspicious circumstances. There were rumours that she had been poisoned. In the poem, the Duke is showing her portrait to a messenger from his next wife’s father.
THINK
What is the effect of the dramatic monologue?
PAIR
Are your ideas similar to your partner’s?
SHARE
Share your ideas with another pair. How do they differ?

3. Comparing the opening with the final line
Opening line
That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall, 
Final line
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!
What similarities can you see between the two lines?
First person pronouns – shows the Duke’s self centred nature and the fact that he is powerful and in command. The repeated possessive pronoun ‘my’ is also used throughout the poem.
He is referring to two works of art – one of his last Duchess and one of (we discover later) a bronze sculpture of Neptune. This emphasises the theme of power and ownership further – he could not control his ex wife in life but he can in death (by opening and closing the curtain surrounding the painting of her).
What impression is Browning creating of the speaker?
What does his seeming obsession with art suggest about his nature?
CHALLENGE: Why does he describe her as his ‘last Duchess’?

4. Structure
What do you notice about the lines, the rhyme scheme and the rhythm?
Identify the technique
Comment on the effect
Look at the overall layout on the page, what does it suggest?
Rhyming couplets: have a light and musical quality. This contrasts with the sinister undertones of the poem.
Iambic pentameter: reflects a heartbeat and natural speech as well emphasising certain words
Enjambment
One Stanza- suggests he does not want to be interrupted
‘But to myself they turned (since none puts by  The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)’ 
Lines’ 9-10
‘For calling up that spot of joy. She had  A heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad,’
Lines 21-22
‘Sir, ’twas all one! My favour at her breast, 
The dropping of the daylight in the West,’
Lines 25-26

5. The setting is sixteenth century Italy, where Duke Alfonso II of Ferrara’s first wife, Lucrezia, died under suspicious circumstances in 1561.
The use of the possessive pronoun indicates ownership. The fact that he refers to her by title and not by name shows how important status is to him.
My Last Duchess Ferrara That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive. I call That piece a wonder, now: Fra Pandolf’s hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands. Will’t please you sit and look at her? I said “Fra Pandolf” by design, for never read Strangers like you that pictured countenance, The depth and passion of its earnest glance, But to myself they turned (since none puts by The curtain I have drawn for you, but I) And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst, How such a glance came there; so, not the first Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, ’twas not
An ominous foreshadowing of what the Duke reveals.
By mentioning the painter’s name, Browning shows the Duke’s materialism.
Encourage students to use their analysis grids and focus on a section at a time. Prompt slides should be displayed for a maximum of 5 minutes each and are to scaffold any students who may need a prompt to help them to engage with each section.
This clause underlines how intimidating the Duke might seem.
The curtain symbolises control.He can now control his wife in a way that he couldn’t when she was alive.

6. The repetition of this phrase suggests that his wife’s blushing irritated him
Her husband’s presence only, called that spot  Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek: perhaps  Fra Pandolf chanced to say “Her mantle laps  Over my lady’s wrist too much,” or “Paint  Must never hope to reproduce the faint  Half-flush that dies along her throat”: such stuff  Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough  For calling up that spot of joy. She had  A heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad,  Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er  She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.  Sir, ’twas all one! My favour at her breast,  The dropping of the daylight in the West, 
The verb ‘dies’ is a foreshadowing of her fate.
He implies that she was undiscerning in her affections towards others.
The use of dashes indicates that the Duke is choosing his words carefully, trying to mask his growing irritation at the memory of his wife. The repetition of ‘too’ suggests that he feels her reactions were excessive.

7. The mule is considered a lowly creature, which underlines the importance of social status and breeding to him.
The dashes and use of caesurae reflect his growing anger and his attempt to control his emotions.
The bough of cherries some officious fool  Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule  She rode with round the terrace—all and each  Would draw from her alike the approving speech,  Or blush, at least. She thanked men,—good! but thanked  Somehow—I know not how—as if she ranked  My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name  With anybody’s gift. Who’d stoop to blame  This sort of trifling? Even had you skill  In speech—(which I have not)—to make your will  Quite clear to such an one, and say, “Just this  Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss,  Or there exceed the mark”—and if she let  Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set  Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse, 
The repeated use of hyphens emphasises how importantly he regards the title that he gave her. It represents wealth, history, heritage and prestige.
He regards her as an object.
His statement is ironic and full of false modesty. The entire dramatic monologue illustrates that he is skilled in speech.
The verb ‘lessoned’ shows his sense of superiority over her, as if she needs to be taught how to behave.

8. This illustrates his authority, but has a chilling and sinister quality. Euphemistically, it implies that he had her murdered.
This underlines his arrogance and sense of superiority.
—E’en then would be some stooping; and I choose  Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt,  Whene’er I passed her; but who passed without  Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands;  Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands  As if alive. Will’t please you rise? We’ll meet  The company below, then. I repeat,  The Count your master’s known munificence  Is ample warrant that no just pretence  Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;  Though his fair daughter’s self, as I avowed  At starting, is my object. Nay, we’ll go  Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,  Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,  Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!
He utters this rhetorical question sarcastically.
The sculpture symbolises his desire for control over others and shows how materialistic he is.
Suggests that he is interested in a woman’s appearance and her financial benefit to him.
By concluding with the first person pronoun, his self-centredness is emphasised.

9. Form
‘My Last Duchess’ is a dramatic monologue. It is written in iambic pentameters to suggest that the Duke is engaging in relaxed conversation with his guest.
However, the frequent use of enjambment, together with the use of caesurae and dashes illustrates his growing anger and irritation. He appears to be an unstable character.
The use of rhyming couplets reflects his need to exercise control, but also shows his skill in speech.
By using the dramatic monologue form, it means that we only see things from the Duke’s perspective. He controls what is said.

10. Structure
The focus is on the Duke’s portrait of his wife. However, the more he focuses on her, the more it reveals about him. In addition, as the poem develops, it reads like a veiled confession by the Duke.
By beginning with the portrait and ending with the statue of Neptune, it emphasises the value that the Duke places on possessions.

11. Look at the final lines of the poem again…
Why do you think he refers to another piece of art work at the end of the poem?
How could the bronze statue of Neptune ‘taming a seahorse’ be symbolic?
How does this poem represent the theme of conflict?

12. ANALYSING YOUR POEM Voice Ballad Tone Sonnet Symbolism Free verse
Structure
How is the piece organised on the page?
Can you identify the topic of each stanza?
Are the stanzas equal or unequal?
How many stanzas/verses?
Is there rhythm/repetition/enjambment?
What is the line length/rhyme scheme?
Effect
What effect on the reader is the poet aiming to achieve?
(How is it intended to make you think/feel?)
What opinion is conveyed by the poet?
What is the purpose of the poet’s choice of language/opinion/theme?
Meaning
What is the poem about?
Can you discover more than one meaning of the poem?
What ideas and themes is the poet portraying?
What is the poet’s point of view?
Voice
Tone
Ballad
Sonnet
Free verse
Dramatic monologue
Symbolism
Alliteration
Assonance
Juxtaposition
Oxymoron
S.M.I.L.E
Simile
Extended Metaphor
Personification
Rhyming Couplet
Enjambment
Emotive Language
Repetition
Language
Which words has the poet used to convey meaning?
What are the connotations of the language used?
Is there more than one meaning of the word/phrase?
Has the poet used figurative language? (onomatopoeia, alliteration, assonance…)
How has the poet used language to infer meaning?
Imagery
Which images are conveyed to the reader?
Does the poem contain metaphors, similes or personification?
Why do you think the poet has included the images in the poem?

13. Reflection: SMILE Paragraph
Point:
Topic sentence with an adjective.
Evidence:
Quotation- try to embed it in the sentence.
Explain:
Select a keyword- why does it stand out?
What is the effect on the reader?
Language Analysis-
Analyse what the word suggests &
how it links back to the adjective.
This suggests…
The use of the word… implies that…
This infers… The poet was trying to convey
The writer wanted to suggest…
The connotations of this word are…
Word Bank