Power & Politics Subset: My Last Duchess - Comprehension Practice

English
Grade 8
10 questions
~20 mins
1 views0 downloads

About This Worksheet

A worksheet designed to foster comprehension and analysis skills focused on the poem 'My Last Duchess' within the context of modern fiction's exploration of power and control.

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Power & Politics Subset: My Last Duchess - Comprehension Practice

Subject: EnglishGrade: Grade 8
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Untitled Worksheet

Grade Grade 8
A

Scene Summary and Context

In modern fiction, themes of power and personal control are often explored through complex character relationships and narrative techniques. Consider the example of a story where a character, much like the Duke in Robert Browning's 'My Last Duchess,' asserts dominance through subtle cues and dialogue. This scene introduces a wealthy individual who exhibits a commanding presence, with hints of possessiveness and authority. The setting involves a private conversation or monologue, revealing the character's attitude towards others and their own status. Phrases like 'I gave commands' and references to a 'frown' or 'smile' subtly imply control over personal relationships. The narrative employs irony and indirect characterization to portray the character’s manipulative nature, emphasizing themes of power and suppression. Such stories often provoke reflection on how language and tone serve as tools for asserting dominance and revealing underlying tensions between characters. In this context, the excerpt explores how personal relationships are influenced by social hierarchies, and how characters use dialogue to conceal or reveal their true intentions.
B

Comprehension Questions

Answer the following questions based on the scene summary and context guide. Use complete sentences where appropriate.
1.
What is the primary theme discussed in the scene summary?
[2 marks]
2.
Describe one narrative technique used to portray the character's manipulative nature.
[2 marks]
3.
Identify a phrase from the summary that hints at control over personal relationships.
[1 mark]
4.
How does the setting of the scene influence the portrayal of the character?
[3 marks]
5.
What literary device is most prominent in conveying the character's attitude?
[1 mark]
Aa) Metaphor
Bb) Irony
Cc) Alliteration
Dd) Caesura
6.
Explain how indirect characterization contributes to understanding the character's personality.
[4 marks]
7.
Based on the summary, what role does tone play in the narrative?
[2 marks]
8.
Create a brief dialogue snippet that could fit within this scene, demonstrating the character’s tone of control.
[4 marks]
9.
Identify two social or psychological themes evident in the scene summary.
[2 marks]
10.
Reflect on how modern fiction uses character dialogue to reveal underlying themes of power. Provide a brief example or explanation.
[4 marks]

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Details

Created
12/31/2025
Updated
12/31/2025
Type
worksheet