Question 1: What is the significance of the painting of the Duchess being described as 'looking as if she were alive'?

Answer: It suggests her lifelike appearance and possibly her influence over the Duke, implying her presence is still felt.

Question 2: Identify one literary device used in the phrase 'the still – / Fright of which legend cannot enough explain'.

Answer: The phrase uses imagery to evoke a sense of haunting stillness, possibly employing metaphor or symbolism.

Question 3: What tone is conveyed through the Duke's description of his last Duchess? Support your answer with a brief quotation.

Answer: The tone appears to be dismissive and condescending, as shown by phrases like 'trifling' and 'never to stoop to blame this sort of trifling'.

Question 4: Identify and explain the use of any contrast or irony present in this extract.

Answer: There is irony in the Duke's claim that he cannot blame her, yet he implies he did, revealing his duplicity or hidden motives.

Question 5: What is the effect of the enjambment in the lines 'That piece a wonder, a work of art, / To weep at, turn to, draw from — the still –'?

Answer: Enjambment creates flow and emphasis, encouraging the reader to continue and reflect on the praise of the artwork.

Question 6: Identify an example of a question or rhetorical device used by the Duke in this passage.

Answer: The rhetorical question '(which I have not)' emphasizes his lack of skill in speech and perhaps his humility or sarcasm.

Question 7: How does Browning’s use of formal, polite language reflect the Duke's character?

Answer: The formal language suggests the Duke's aristocratic background and his attempt to appear courteous and controlled.

Question 8: What does the phrase 'never to stoop to blame this sort of trifling' reveal about the Duke's attitude?

Answer: It reveals his dismissive attitude towards accusations against his wife and suggests a sense of superiority.

Question 9: Identify one literary technique Browning employs to reveal the Duke's personality in this extract.

Answer: Browning uses free indirect speech and tone to reveal the Duke's arrogance and possessiveness.