My Last Duchess - An Analysis

A brief analysis of My Last Duchess by Robert Browning.

In the poem the story is largely told through characterization and point of view. Browning has used an interesting combination of the two in which they both greatly influence the other.

The narrator throughout the poem is a wealthy Duke. We know this from the title and his wealth is insinuated throughout the poem. By using repetition of the name (line 46)  to name drop he lets the reader know the individual is an impressive connection. This name dropping also tells the reader that the character is arrogant. 

The poem the Duke recalling memories of his last duchess to a messenger belonging to the family of his future wife. In this description the characterization and point of view greatly feed of of one another. This is because the characterization creates his point of view; this therefore gives the reader an impression of his last Duchess from his perspective.

Browning has also used metaphors to represent the story. (line 54) 'Notice Neptune though, taming a sea horse, thought a rarity' referring to a bronze statue that has been made for him. This is a metaphor for the relationship between him and his wife. He thinks of himself as Neptune, powerful and his wife as the sea horse small but feisty and difficult to control. Browning has structured it by placing this near the very end of the poem, means it acts as summary for the stories he has just told about his wife. It also gives perspective into what he thinks of his Last Duchess; it suggests that he views her as less significant than him.

1st September - Reading Journal

- Irregular rhyme scheme
- Free verse
- Hints of both objectivity and subjectivity
- Enjambment, combined with subjectivty makes it feel more like the narrator is saying the words as he thinks them.
- First scene sets the scene
- Name dropping gives an idea of time and context

O What Is That Sound - Reading Journal

A type question

• Ballad
• Regualr metre
• Stanzas develop time
• In first person
• Use of imagery (red colours)
• Call and Response
• "O" is always at the start of the stanza
• Use of rhyme in every stanza
• Phonetic effects
• AB structure within each stanza
• Quatrain 4 line verse
• Subjective Voice

B type question

• Binary opposition with "brightly" and "weapons"
• Language "dear" is intimate, combined with "the vows you swore" and "I promised to love you, dear" suggets the voices are husband and wife
• Possible wife (1st voice) is in denial and that's why she seems naive / curious
• Possibly about conscription or he's wanted for deserting
• "I must be leaving" goodbye due to execution or conscription?
• The army is deindividualised in the last stanza
• The repeated O seems like and expression of dispair

Musee des Beaux Arts - Reading Journal

Type A question

• Enjambment over different stanzas
• Exphrastic
• Voice of the narrator is the voice of Auden
• Setting - Art gallery
• 3 stanzas, 1 stanza is only 1 line long
• Being subjective about the art (observing and being opinionated)
• Irregular rhyme
• Free verse
• Humorous
• Descriptions of the art create some imagery
• No characters (different to his other poems)

Miss Gee - Reading Journal

Type A

• A comment on religion
• Ideas of irony
• 1st person - partial voice change to 3rd?
• Quatrain - regular metre
• Stanzas develop time in the poem (Similar to 'O what is that sound?')
• Blues tune sets the mood
• Repetition of certain words / phrases
• Clear ABCB structure
• Black comedy
• Objective and omniscient voice

Type B

• Jingle like, Auden wants the poem to be memorable
• Irony about religion and death
• Since she has a deep connection with god maybe this is why she doesn't mind what's done with her body after death
• Main themes; sex, religion, death/life

Possible History Boys essay questions

- Within the comedy there's tragedy and an air of sadness

- Is the play a story about powerplay? E.g Dakin trying to come across as complex, the headmaster needing league table results and

- Links between religion and love, do they intertwine? E.g Scripps talking about god and Posner who is jewish

- Who is the most important character in the play? Posner / Irwin?

- What importance does the music have in the play? Would the play be significantly different without?

How is the comedy created in Act One of 'The History Boys'?

Think about possible essay questions and shape your comments around them. You could consider the serious issues in the play and how characters and themes are developed to explore them.

- Eccentric teachers, flourish and flamboiance can be comedic
- Slapstick humour
- Rivalry between Hector and Irwin

Themes:
- Abuse, violence and sexual
- Elitism / status
- References to shakespearian tradgedies e.g. King Lear, Hamlet

Is the comedy used as a medium for serious issues?
Why do we like Hector even though he's a paedophile?
Are hector and Irwin more similar than they seem?
Are attitudes and reactions the same now and in the 80's (when the play is set)?