Question 1: Briefly explain the historical context of 'My Last Duchess' and how it influences the themes of power and control in the poem.

Answer: The poem is set in the Renaissance period, reflecting the duke's aristocratic power and control, which influences his attitude towards his wife and his possessiveness.

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

Answer: Browning uses irony to suggest the duke's arrogance and a controlled tone to create a sense of menace, making the reader question his morality.

Question 1: Analyze the line: 'That spot of joy she had' - what does this reveal about the duke’s attitude towards his wife?

Answer: It suggests the duke views her happiness as a minor, insignificant event, highlighting his possessiveness and inability to tolerate her joy.

Question 2: How does Browning use the metaphor of the 'spot of joy' to comment on the relationship between the duke and his wife?

Answer: The metaphor implies that the duke perceives his wife’s happiness as something to be controlled or dismissed, reflecting themes of power and dominance.

Question 1: Identify and explain the effect of the personification in the line: 'The curtain I have drawn for you, but I.',

Answer: The personification of the curtain as something the duke controls emphasizes his dominance and desire to hide his true feelings.

Question 2: Find a simile in the poem and discuss how it enhances the poem’s themes.

Answer: The simile 'as if she ranked My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name' highlights the aristocratic pride and the importance of social status in the duke’s view of his wife.

Question 1: Discuss how the duke’s attitude towards his wife reflects wider themes of power and control.

Answer: The duke’s dismissive attitude and his controlling speech reveal a desire to dominate and control his wife, reflecting broader themes of aristocratic power and gender roles. His ownership of her, implied through his tone and the poem’s structure, highlights the destructive nature of absolute power.

Question 2: How does the poem explore the idea of reputation and social status? Provide examples.

Answer: The duke values his social reputation highly, as shown by his concern with the portrait and the way he subtly hints at her behavior, which he perceives as shameful. His control over her image suggests the importance of reputation in aristocratic society.

Question 1: Outline key points for comparing how Browning and Shelley depict the theme of power.

Answer: Browning depicts power as personal and destructive, focusing on individual control and pride, while Shelley presents power as fleeting and ultimately doomed, emphasizing the impermanence of human achievement and arrogance.

Question 1: Quote: 'That spot of joy she had.' Analyze this quote, focusing on keywords and their connotations.

Answer: The phrase 'spot of joy' uses the word 'spot' to suggest something small, insignificant, or fleeting, and 'joy' to imply happiness. Together, they diminish her feelings, suggesting the duke’s view of her happiness as trivial or a sign of his own control over her.

Question 1: Create an essay plan or write a paragraph discussing Browning's techniques in portraying the duke's personality and themes.

Answer: Browning uses dramatic monologue to give insight into the duke’s mind, with controlled language and subtle irony highlighting his arrogance. Imagery such as the portrait and references to control over her happiness reinforce the theme of power. The tone remains manipulative, reflecting the duke’s desire to dominate and conceal his true nature.