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

Answer: The poem reflects Victorian attitudes towards power, reputation, and control, with Browning exploring themes of dominance and jealousy through the Duke's perspective.

Question 2: Identify the main theme conveyed in the line: 'That's my last Duchess painted on the wall.'

Answer: The theme of possession and control over the Duchess, highlighting the Duke's sense of ownership.

Question 1: Analyze the significance of the line: 'Notice Neptune, though, / Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,' in terms of themes and language devices.

Answer: It uses metaphor and allusion to depict the Duke's view of himself as powerful and in control, comparing his dominance over the Duchess to Neptune's control over the sea-horse, emphasizing themes of authority.

Question 2: How does Browning use irony in the lines: 'Will 't please you sit and look at her? I said / 'Fra Pandolf' by design'?

Answer: The irony lies in the Duke's calm, polite tone while revealing his sinister control over the Duchess's fate, contrasting his outward civility with his inner cruelty.

Question 1: Quote: 'My gift of nine hundred years old name.' How does Browning use this to portray the Duke's attitude towards reputation?

Answer: The phrase emphasizes the Duke's pride in his noble heritage, using hyperbole to suggest that reputation and status are sources of power for him.

Question 2: Identify the metaphor in: 'The curtain I have drawn for you, but I do believe / That there she stands.' and discuss its significance.

Answer: The 'curtain' metaphor suggests concealment and control over the Duchess's image, symbolizing the Duke's manipulation and suppression of her true self.

Question 1: Discuss how the theme of power is portrayed through the Duke's speech and attitude.

Answer: The Duke's speech reveals his sense of entitlement and dominance, using language that diminishes the Duchess and emphasizes his authority, showcasing the destructive nature of absolute power.

Question 2: How does Browning depict jealousy and control as destructive forces in the poem?

Answer: Jealousy and control are shown as destructive through the Duke's obsession with reputation and his suspicion of infidelity, leading to moral corruption and emotional coldness.

Question 1: What are the similarities and differences in how the two poems depict the use and abuse of power?

Answer: Both poems explore the theme of power—'My Last Duchess' depicts personal control and arrogance, leading to moral decay, while 'Ozymandias' highlights the futility of absolute power over time. The former is about individual ego, the latter about hubris and the impermanence of authority.

Question 1: Quote: 'She ranked / My gift of a nine hundred years old name.' Analyze the connotations of 'ranked' and 'gift' in terms of the Duke's values.

Answer: The word 'ranked' suggests superiority and social hierarchy, while 'gift' implies a sense of entitlement. Together, they reflect the Duke's pride in his status and his view of the Duchess as a possession.

Question 2: Quote: 'I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together.' How does Browning use this to imply the Duchess's fate?

Answer: The phrase suggests the Duke's cold, authoritative control over her death, with 'gave commands' indicating his role in her demise, creating an unsettling effect that reveals his cruelty.

Question 1: Draft a plan for an analytical paragraph or essay that explores Browning's use of language and structure to depict the Duke's personality and attitudes.

Answer: Introduction: Context and overview of themes. Body: Use specific quotes to show the Duke's arrogance, obsession with reputation, and controlling nature. Discuss Browning's use of dramatic monologue and punctuation to reveal character. Conclusion: Summarize how these elements depict the destructive power of unchecked authority.