Question 1: Briefly describe the context of 'My Last Duchess' and its themes related to power and control.

Answer: The poem is narrated by a duke who reveals his controlling nature and jealousy, exploring themes of power, pride, and dominance.

Question 2: Identify two key language devices used in the poem and explain their effect on the reader.

Answer: Examples include the use of irony to reveal the duke's arrogance, and imagery to depict the portrait and the duchess's smile, emphasizing their relationship.

Question 1: Read the lines: 'That spot of joy / Too soon made glad, / Too easily impressed; / She liked whate’er / She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.' How does Browning use language here to portray the duchess?

Answer: He uses casual language and listing to suggest her carefree nature, which the duke perceives as superficial and inappropriate, emphasizing his possessiveness.

Question 2: Analyze the significance of the line: 'My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name.' What does it reveal about the duke?

Answer: It highlights the duke's pride in his aristocratic status and suggests his concern with reputation and social standing.

Question 1: Find and explain the metaphor in the phrase: 'The curtain I have drawn for you, but I / Must tell you...'. What does the 'curtain' symbolize?

Answer: The 'curtain' symbolizes the duke's control over the truth about his wife and his desire to hide his darker feelings.

Question 2: Identify the personification in the line: 'The faint half-flush that dies along her throat.' How does this enhance the imagery?

Answer: The 'half-flush' is personified as a subtle, fleeting sign of emotion, emphasizing the fragility of the duchess's happiness and the duke’s perception of her insincerity.

Question 1: How does Browning portray the duke's attitude towards power? Provide examples from the poem.

Answer: The duke's tone suggests he views power as a right and a means to control others, evident in his boastful tone and emphasis on his social status.

Question 2: Discuss how the imagery used in describing the portrait influences the reader's perception of the duke's character.

Answer: The detailed description of the portrait, with its emphasis on beauty and control, portrays the duke as proud, possessive, and obsessed with appearances.

Question 1: Outline key similarities and differences in how Browning and Shelley depict power and authority in their poems.

Answer: Both poems explore the corrupting influence of power. Browning's duke seeks control over his wife and reputation, while Shelley's Ozymandias depicts the fleeting nature of power through the ruined statue. Browning's poem is personal and character-driven; Shelley’s is more about the impermanence of human achievement.

Question 1: Analyze the quote: 'She had / A heart—how shall I say?— / Too soon made glad, / Too easily impressed;' in detail, focusing on word choice and tone.

Answer: The phrase 'Too soon made glad' and 'Too easily impressed' suggest the duke’s view of the duchess as superficial and flighty. The tone is critical and slightly mocking, revealing his contempt and jealousy, which influences the reader to see him as possessive and insecure.

Question 1: Create an outline for an essay discussing how Browning uses language devices and imagery to depict the duke's personality and themes of power.

Answer: Introduction: Context and main argument. Paragraph 1: Use of irony and tone to portray the duke's arrogance. Paragraph 2: Imagery of the portrait and the 'spot of joy' to show control and superficiality. Paragraph 3: Language of possession ('my', 'I') to emphasize dominance. Conclusion: Browning’s critique of power and pride.