Understanding 'My Last Duchess'

Who is the narrator, or speaker, of this poem?

• Robert Browning

• The Poet

• The Duke

• The Duchess

Answer explanation

The poem is loosely based on historical events involving Alfonso, the Duke of Ferrara, who lived in the 16th century.

Where is the Duchess who is the subject of the poem?

• she is in her room

• She is waiting for the Duke with the rest of the company

• She has been banished from the castle

• She is dead

Answer explanation

What is meant by the phrase 'a spot of joy' (lines 14-15)?

• A brightness in the eye

• A blush

• A time of merriment

• A tear

Answer explanation

Normal' blushing happens when a strong emotional response stimulates the nervous system to increase the flow of blood into the skin of the face.

Which of the following phrases gives the reader the impression that the Duke was a fond husband?

• 'Fra Pandolf’s hands / Worked busily a day, and there she stands'

• 'She had / A heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad'

• '(Since none puts by / The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)'

• Will’t please you rise? We’ll meet / The company below, then'

Answer explanation

fond

adjective [ -er/-est only ]US /fɑnd/

having feelings of affection for someone or something, or having a liking for an activity:

I’m really fond of my aunt and enjoy seeing her.

She had fond memories of her childhood.

Charles is fond of driving, so I’m happy just to be a passenger.

'She had / A heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad' - What is the effect of the Duke's hesitation here?

• The Duke implies that his interpretation is much kinder than the reality

• The pause gives the impression that the Duke hesitates to wipe away a tear or two

• The Duke implies that his wife was a much gentler, soft-hearted woman than people realised

• The pause gives the impression that the Duke is not very articulate

Answer explanation

In fact, the Duke continues in a vein which implies that his wife was a shameless flirt. This statement, which introduces a passage condemning his wife's manner and behaviour, almost implies that he is too much of a gentleman to mention her shocking actions

What effect does the repeated enjambment have in this poem?

• It gives the impression that the Duke is an accomplished speaker

• It gives the impression that the Duke rarely pauses for breath

• The use of enjambment has no effect

• It gives the impression that the Duke has broken down emotionally

Answer explanation

Definition of EnjambmentEnjambment is a literary device in which a line of poetry carries its idea or thought over to the next line without a grammatical pause. With enjambment, the end of a poetic phrase extends past the end of the poetic line. This means that the thought or idea “steps over” the end of a line in a poem and into the beginning of the next line. The absence of punctuation allows for enjambment, and requires the reader to read through a poem’s line break without pausing in order to understand the conclusion of the thought or idea.

Considering its tone, the Duke's monologue is best described as a...

• tirade

• epitaph

• elegy

• charade

Answer explanation

tirade

/tʌɪˈreɪd,tɪˈreɪd/

Learn to pronounce

noun

a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation.

Which of the following is NOT one of the Duchess's misdemeanours, according to the Duke?

noun: misdemeanor

1.a minor wrongdoing.

• She was flattered by compliments from Fra Pandolf

• She enjoyed the sunset as much as she enjoyed her husband's favour

• She enjoyed the sunset as much as she enjoyed her husband's favour

• She wouldn't listen to her husband when he tried to correct her behaviour

Answer explanation

A misdemeanor is a minor offense, rather than a serious crime. A minor infraction like keeping a library book for years.

'This grew; I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together.' - How should these lines be interpreted?

• The Duchess stayed out of her husband's way

• The Duke forgave his wife and stopped tormenting her

• The Duchess grew to hate her husband and divorced him

• The Duke is somehow responsible for the Duchess's early death

Answer explanation

Many readers interpret these lines to mean that the Duke murdered his wife, possibly because the 16th century Duke upon which the character is based was suspected of causing the death of his first young wife

What is the Duke in the midst of planning?

• a hunting trip

• a banquet

• commissioning anew piece of art

• a new marriage

Answer explanation

Browning draws the poem to a terrifying conclusion: some unlucky daughter of a Count will be the Duke's next Duchess. Will she, too, come to be known as his 'last' Duchess?