Who is the narrator speaking to in my last Duchess?

the duke of Ferrara

Who is the silent listener in My Last Duchess?

The envoy is a person who is a silent listener in the course of the poem. The critics suggest that Browning’s Duke may be the historical figure, Alfonso ii. He was the Duke of Ferrara who married Lucrezia de Medici in 1558 when she was only fifteen (15) years old. The Duchess died in 1561 at the age of seventeen (17).

Who delivers the dramatic monologue in My Last Duchess and who is the listener?

Duke of Ferrara

How is the speaker presented in My Last Duchess?

“My Last Duchess” is a narrative poem by Robert Browning that is structured as a dramatic monolog. The speaker is the cold and arrogant Duke Ferrara who escorts a visitor through his castle, pausing before a portrait of the Duke’s previous wife who, we learn, has died.

How did the Duke regard his wife?

The duke is upset that everything pleases the duchess. She is too innocent and too generous with her approval and too easily impressed. He later says that her holding any kindness in equal standing with his affection and his gifts “disgusts” him, though he refuses to “stoop” to tell the duchess why he is upset.

What makes My Last Duchess a dramatic monologue?

Form. “My Last Duchess” is a dramatic monologue. It is a monologue in the sense that it consists of words spoken by one person. It is dramatic in the sense that another person is present, listening to the speaker’s words, which are shared with a wider audience, the poem’s readers.

Why is the speaker in a dramatic monologue?

The speaker in such poems usually speaks alone, in a one way conversation, and so it is called a monologue. The setting of such poems is dramatic. This means that the character will be found talking to someone in such a situation and manner that he exposes the secrets about his real character

What is the effect of a dramatic monologue?

Dramatic monologues are a way of expressing the views of a character and offering the audience greater insight into that character’s feelings.

What is the difference between a dramatic monologue and a soliloquy?

Monologue means a long and typically tedious speech by one person during a conversation, while soliloquy means the act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers. A soliloquy is a character making a speech, usually when alone. That means the character can hear himself speak.

How do you end a dramatic monologue?

At the end of the monologue, leave your audience with something to think about. Most dramatic monologues are self-contained speeches, so it’s worth spending some time coming up with an ending that feels conclusive but also leaves your audience wanting to know more about your character and story

How long should a monologue be in words?

An effective monologue should be around one minute, or 90 seconds max

What is the monologue in Romeo and Juliet?

A monologue from the play by William Shakespeare JULIET: Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? When I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it? But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? That villain cousin would have killed my husband.

Who gives a monologue in Romeo and Juliet?

Monologue spoken by Lady Capulet in Act 1, Scene 3: Find written in the margent of his eyes.

Who is the narrator speaking to in my last Duchess?

the duke of Ferrara

How are the speakers in My Last Duchess and Porphyria’s Lover different?

In ‘My Last Duchess,’ the speaker is conveyed as being controlling, arrogant, malicious, and capricious. The Duke shows signs of jealousy and over-protection towards his first wife. On the other hand, the narrator in ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ is portrayed as who has lost touch with reality, someone clearly insane.

What does the speaker say about the subject of his monologue in My Last Duchess?

The subject of the speaker’s monologue in “My Last Duchess” is his late wife and his displeasure with her behavior.

Who is the speaker in My Last Duchess to whom does he speak and in what context?

In the poem, he’s talking about his first wife Lucrezia de’ Medici, who died under suspicious circumstances shortly after marrying the Duke. In the poem the Duke is speaking to an emissary who is negotiating the Duke’s next marriage to the daughter of another powerful family.

Why does the speaker in Porphyria’s Lover kill her?

He feared she might not feel the same way she felt for him the next day as she did that night. His was an apparently insane mind, for he decided to kill her. By doing so, he thought, he might be able to seize that moment forever. If Porphyria died while she was united with him, he would never lose her.

What is the main message in My Last Duchess?

“My Last Duchess” is all about power: the political and social power wielded by the speaker (the Duke) and his attempt to control the domestic sphere (his marriage) in the same way that he rules hi…

What is the irony in the poem My Last Duchess?

Irony Examples in My Last Duchess: Browning utilizes a poetic device called verbal irony in this selection to demonstrate how the Duke conveys a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning of the phrase. In this case, the narrator implies that he did not like these attributes of his last Duchess.

Why does the Duke hide the Duchess painting behind a curtain?

Eventually, “I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together.” This could be interpreted as either the Duke had given commands to the Duchess to stop smiling, or commands for her to be killed. He now keeps her painting hidden behind a curtain that only he is allowed to draw back, thus now she only smiles for him.

How did the last duchess die?

It isn’t explicitly spelled out, but we can reasonably infer that the duchess was killed on the orders of her husband. As he explains to the Count’s emissary in chilling, matter-of-fact language, he gave commands, and then all the Duchess’s smiles stopped.

Why did the Duke kill his last duchess?

In the poem “My Last Duchess” the Duke of Ferrara has killed his wife because he believes that she has been unfaithful to him. “The duke attributes his failure to communicate his preferences to his wife to his social standing. Even if she tolerated some correction or instruction

What does the last duchess mean?

My Last Duchess

What does all smiles stopped in line 46 imply?

Because the Duchess “smiled” (line 43) at others, the Duke “gave commands” (line 45) so that “all smiles stopped together” (line 46), which may be a euphemism for having the Duchess killed or at least silenced

Why is the Duke speaking to this listener?

The Duke is trying to convey to the listener, who has come to broker a new marriage for the Duke, that his deceased wife was disloyal to him.

Why has this visitor come to the Duke’s home?

Because he considers that to be “stooping” (and he will not lower himself). In fact, the person’s visit to the duke, presumably to work out the details of the dowry and nuptials, is what prompts the duke to tell the story of his last duchess in the first place.

What flaw does the Duke identify in his last duchess?

What is the Duke’s opinion of the last duchess do you see her personality differently?

2. What is the Duke’s opinion of his last Duchess’s personality? Do we see her character differently? Ans- The Duke was dissatisfied with his last Duchess because he thought that she was not completed focused on him and was flirting with other people.

What bothered the Duke about the Duchess’s smile?

The duke wanted his wife to smile at no one but himself. The duchess’ smiles to the other men aroused an anger in the duke so powerful that he gave commands to have her killed. His jealousy stemmed from his perceived lack of control that he had over his wife.

What does the Duke say about dowry?

Near the end of the monologue he says, “I repeat, / The Count your master’s known munificence / Is ample warrant that no just pretence / Of mine for dowry will be disallowed.” So he is repeating what he has already told this man, showing that the dowry was uppermost in his mind.

What does the Duke reveal about himself?

The Duke reveals himself to be an emotionally cold, calculating, materialistic, haughty, aristocratic connoisseur; on the positive side, he is a patron of such artists as Fra Pandolf and Claus of Innsbruck (both fictional).

Why does the Duke most likely point out his statue of Neptune taming a sea horse to his visitor?

The statue of Neptune taming a seahorse symbolizes the Duke’s persona. The Duke boasts of his aggression toward his dead wife in an effort to gain complete mastery over her most simple pleasures. His reference to the statue of Neptune emphasizes his hunger for mastery over all of the things around him

Is Fra pandolf real?

Fra Pandolf is not a real artist but a fictitous creation of Browning, as was “Claus of Innsbruck,” named in the last line of the poem. However, from the way the Duke mentions the name of Fra Pandolf it is obvious that the artist is supposed to be famous and his works highly valued.

What does the Duke imply when he uses the word only in line 14?

What does the Duke imply when he uses the word only in line 14? The Duke implies that it should be “her husband’s presence only” that causes her such pleasure.

What does FRA pandolf mean?

Fra Pandolf is the name of the painter who painted the famous portrait of the Duke’s last Duchess that is being surveyed by the Duke and his guest during the poem.

What does the statue depict that the Duke references at the poem’s conclusion?

What does the statue depict that the Duke references at the poem’s conclusion? The statue of Neptune taming a seahorse symbolizes the Duke’s persona. The Duke boasts of his aggression toward his dead wife in an effort to gain complete mastery over her most simple pleasures

What is the favorite poetic form of Browning?

Browning secured his place as a prominent poet with dramatic monologue, the form he mastered and for which he became known and influential. In dramatic monologue, a character speaks to a listener from his or her subjective point of view

What literary devices are used in My Last Duchess?

Literary Devices in My Last Duchess

Allusion: Perhaps the most significant allusion—a reference to another work of art or text—is at the end of the play to the Roman god Neptune.
Dramatic Monologue: This poem is a dramatic monologue, a poetic form that mimics the speech of an individual character.

What does the description of the last Duchess behavior in lines 25 31 reveal about her?

What does the description of the last Duchess’ behavior in lines 25-31 reveal about her? A She was friendly and kind to everyone she met.

Why has the Duke positioned the full length portrait on a landing on the grand staircase then had it covered with a curtain?

It is a matter of conjecture why the man would have his wife killed but keep her portrait and then cover it with a curtain, but it seems likely, judging from his character, that he considered the painting too valuable to discard or destroy, while at the same time he didn’t care to be continually reminded of his dead …

What is the painting a metaphor of In My Last Duchess?

Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess” does not rely heavily on metaphors. It is rather a monologue delivered by the speaker describing a painting of his wife and his wife as a person when she was still living. The painting can be said to symbolize the wife, the last duchess.

What are the symbols used in Browning’s My Last Duchess?

Frà Pandolf’s Painting of the Duchess. The most obvious symbol in “My Last Duchess” is the one that the Duke spends most of his time talking about – the portrait of the Duchess painted by Frà Pandolf on the wall of his privat…
That Spot of Joy.
Smiles.
Stooping.
Neptune Taming a Seahorse.