My Last Duchess

Name: Class: My Last Duchess By Robert Browning 1842Robert Browning (1812-1889) was a celebrated English poet and playwright of the Victorian era. In one ofBrowning’s most famous poems, “My Last Duchess,” a Duke gives a tour of his home to the servant of hisprospective new wife's family. As the Duke and the servant look at a portrait of the Duke’s previous wife onthe wall, the Duke criticizes her unreserved friendliness and kindness of spirit, which could not be reconciledwith the Duke’s self-importance. Many scholars believe that Browning's Duke is modeled after the real-lifeDuke of Ferrara, whose young wife's mysterious death raised questions of foul play and betrayal. As youread, take notes on how the poet's use of structure and rhyme scheme contribute to the characterization ofthe narrator.[1] That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall, \"Portrait of Lucrezia de' Medici\" is licensed under Public domain. Looking as if she were alive. I call That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf’s1 hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands.[5] Will’t please you sit and look at her? I said ‘Frà Pandolf’ by design,2 for never read Strangers like you that pictured countenance,3 The depth and passion of its earnest glance, But to myself they turned (since none puts by[10] The curtain I have drawn for you, but I) And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,4 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[15] Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek: perhaps Frà Pandolf chanced to say, ‘Her mantle5 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[20] 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.[25] Sir, ’twas all one! My favour6 at her breast, The dropping of the daylight in the West, The bough of cherries some officious fool1. A fictional painter2. Meaning “on purpose”3. Countenance (noun): a person's face or facial expression4. The archaic past tense of “dare”5. Shawl6. A gift to denote a mark of esteem 1

Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule She rode with round the terrace—all and each[30] 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 name7 With anybody’s gift. Who’d stoop to blame[35] This sort of trifling?8 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[40] Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set Her wits to yours, forsooth,9 and made excuse, —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[45] 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 Count10 your master’s known munificence11[50] Is ample warrant that no just pretence12 Of mine for dowry13 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,14 though,[55] Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, Which Claus of Innsbruck15 cast in bronze for me! My Last Duchess by Robert Browning is in the public domain. 7. A reference to the Duke’s centuries-old familial prestige 8. Trifle (verb): to bother with petty or insignificant things; to talk or behave frivolously or without seriousness 9. A synonym of “indeed,” often used archaically to express surprise or indignation 10. “Count” is a title for a European nobleman; here, the Duke is referring to the servant’s master, who is awaiting them downstairs to discuss the Duke’s marriage to the Count’s daughter. 11. Munificence (noun): extreme generosity 12. Pretense (noun): a fake display of attitudes or intentions 13. A dowry is the property or money brought by the bride or the family of a bride to her husband upon their marriage. 14. Neptune is the god of the sea. 15. A fictional sculptor 2

Text-Dependent QuestionsDirections: For the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete sentences.1. PART A: Which statement best summarizes the overall plot of the poem? [RL.2]A. The Duke, whose last wife’s loyalty was questionable, had too much self-respect to stoop to petty jealousy over her behavior toward others.B. The Duke’s last wife, immortalized in a painting, offended her husband’s sense of self-importance with her friendliness, eventually resulting in her questionable end.C. The Duke’s last wife vanished under mysterious circumstances, so the family of the Duke’s potential new wife must take extra precautions before approving the marriage as they are uncertain he is trustworthy.D. The painting of the Duke’s last wife is no more meaningful to the Duke than his sculpture of Neptune, revealing to the servant of the potential new wife’s family that he is a shallow and cold man.2. PART B: Which TWO phrases from the poem provide the best support for the answer [RL.1] to Part A? A. “I call / That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf’s hands / Worked busily a day, and there she stands.” (Lines 2-4) B. “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” (Lines 21-24) C. “Who’d stoop to blame / This sort of trifling?” (Lines 34-35) D. “This grew; I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together.” (Lines 45-46) E. “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” (Lines 49-53) F. “Notice Neptune, though, / Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, / Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!” (Lines 54-56)3. PART A: As used in line 27, what does the word “officious” mean? [RL.4] A. intrusively enthusiastic; prone to interfering B. flirtatious or promiscuous C. obsessed with following rules D. disrespectful or showing a lack of courtesy4. PART B: Which line(s) from the poem best supports the answer to Part A? [RL.1] A. “My favour at her breast” (Line 25) B. “The dropping of the daylight in the West” (Line 26) C. “The bough of cherries” (Line 27) D. “Broke in the orchard for her” (Line 28) 3

5. How are the details about the painting of the Duchess important to the development [RL.3] of the poem’s central ideas? A. They demonstrate that the Duke’s primary interest is in collecting a wide array of pieces of art. B. They give the reader to understand that the Duke is obsessed with immortalizing himself and the trappings of his life through the creation of works of art. C. They call into question what became of the previous Duchess. D. They emphasize the Duke’s lack of respect for his last wife, whom he viewed as a mere possession for the improvement of his own self-image.6. Explain how the structure and rhyme scheme of the poem contribute to the author’s [RL.5] characterization of the narrator. Cite evidence from the poem in your response. 4

Discussion QuestionsDirections: Brainstorm your answers to the following questions in the space provided. Be prepared toshare your original ideas in a class discussion. 1. What does the narrator mean when he says that he chooses “never to stoop” (Line 43)? Do you think he is being honest? What might this statement suggest about him, particularly in the context of the rest of the poem? 2. Browning is widely renowned for his talent in the realm of dramatic monologues. What is the effect of formatting the poem as a (distinctly one-sided) conversation? 3. To what extent, if any, do you think jealousy is normal in a relationship? How can you tell when a relationship has become unhealthy? 4. The narrator of the poem seems to believe that his previous partner betrayed him, though the reader may come to believe that it was the narrator who betrayed his spouse. In the context of this poem, what drives a person to betray? Cite evidence from this text, your own experience, and other literature, art, or history in your answer. 5