GCSE English Lit - My Last Duchess

1. ‘My’ is a possessive pronoun.
What does that show

My Last Duchess by Robert Browning about how the Duke views the Duchess, even when she is
dead?
_______________________________________________
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 2. The Duke says ‘now’ that she is dead, he sees the
Worked busily a day, and there she stands. painting of her as a ‘wonder’. What does this suggest
about how he used to view her?
Will’t please you sit and look at her? I said _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
“Fra Pandolf” by design, for never read _______________________________________________
Strangers like you that pictured countenance,
CHALLENGE 1: The Duke is the only person who is
The depth and passion of its earnest glance, allowed to draw back the curtain covering the painting
of the Duchess. What does that symbolise? Why is a
But to myself they turned (since none puts by
curtain used to cover her?
The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)
3. ‘Durst’ means ‘dare’. What does this quotation reveal
And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst, about the Duke?
_______________________________________________
How such a glance came there; so, not the first
_______________________________________________
Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, ’twas not _______________________________________________
Her husband’s presence only, called that spot CHALLENGE 2: The Duke is referring to the Duchess
Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek; perhaps blushing here. Why does he call it a “spot” of joy?
Also, is this a normal way to view someone blushing?
Fra Pandolf chanced to say, “Her mantle laps Why is the Duchess blushing?
Over my lady’s wrist too much,” or “Paint 4. Choose a word here that makes this description of
Must never hope to reproduce the faint the Duchess blushing sound ominous and sinister:
“________________________________”
Half-flush that dies along her throat.” Such stuff
5. What technique is used here with the hyphens
Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough and what does it suggest about the Duke’s emotions
For calling up that spot of joy. She had here?
A heart—how shall I say?— too soon made glad, Technique: _________________________________

Duke’s emotions:
Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er ___________________________________________
___________________________________________
She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.
Sir, ’twas all one! My favour at her breast, 6. What do these three things have in common that
The dropping of the daylight in the West, the Duchess liked and what does it tell the reader
about her?
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 ___________________________________________
___________________________________________
7. The Duke implies that the Duchess
My Last Duchess by Robert Browning “thanked” men for different gifts, such as the
“bough of cherries”. What do you think he is
implying about her?
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 8. The Duke says that he does not have “skill” in
“speech” and so is not very good at talking. Do you
This sort of trifling? Even had you skill
agree? Why/why not?
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— CHALLENGE 3: What do you think this
E’en then would be some stooping; and I choose quotation is about? Annotate it so show what
you think he meant.
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 9. A ‘dowry’ is the money or possessions passed on to a
The company below, then. I repeat, man by the father of the woman he marries. Women
could not inherit money or possessions legally and so this
The Count your master’s known munificence was the only main incentive for a man to marry a woman.
What does this show about the Duke’s priorities for his
Is ample warrant that no just pretence next marriage?
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 __________________________________________
CHALLENGE 4: Neptune is the god of the sea.
Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though, Why does the Duke point out this statue he has
Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, of Neptune “taming” a seahorse right at the end
of the poem?
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!
My Last Duchess by Robert Browning
CHALLENGE 1:
CHALLENGE 2:
CHALLENGE 3:
“stopped” suggests that the Duke
“commands” is vague but could mean he told
people to
I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together.

The word “all” shows that all the joy
CHALLENGE 4:

GCSE English Lit - My Last Duchess

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

GCSE English Lit - My Last Duchess

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

GCSE English Lit - My Last Duchess

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

1. ‘My’ is a possessive pronoun.

What does that show

A heart—how shall I say?— too soon made glad, Technique: _________________________________

I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together.

You might also like