My+Last+Duchess

[|My Last Duchess Poem]

Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess," first published in //Dramatic Lyrics// in 1842, is one of the best known of his many dramatic monologues. Browning developed his literary acumen in part through scouring the several thousand tomes in his father's library; his education, mostly taken at home, provided him with an eclectic history from which many of his poems' subjects are drawn. For many years, Robert Browning's popularity was shadowed by that of his wife, Elizabeth Barrett, with whom he had corresponded before they met in person in 1845. Against the wishes of Elizabeth's possessive father, they eloped to Italy in 1846 and lived there with their son until Elizabeth's death in 1861. While in Italy, Robert wrote many of his most well-known poems, though at the time they were not critically acclaimed. In 1861, Browning and his son returned to London, where the poet continued to write and achieve increasing recognition, culminating with the acclaimed //The Ring and the Book// in 1868. Upon his death in 1889, he was buried in Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey. [|Robert Browning Biography]

[|Dramatic Monologue] to be a dramatic monologue a poem must have a speaker and an implied auditor, and … the reader often perceives a gap between what that speaker says and what he or she actually reveals

With the above definition, we should understand that we participate as the auditor, a listener who must examine the gap between what is said, and what is revealed. As you continue with the lesson, keep in mind that Glenn Everett argues that Browning's dramatic monologues contain three "requirements" (from his essay, available on [|Victorian Web]):
 * 1) The reader shares the part of the "listener" or audience.
 * 2) The speaker uses a case-making, argumentative tone.
 * 3) "We complete the dramatic scene from within, by means of inference and imagination." Everett argues that as the listener, we participate in the drama by imagining that we are present, and by inferring what the speaker really did. Rarely, however, do we have conclusive proof.

Questions


 * Who is the speaker of the poem? What is the speaker's name?


 * What is a Duke? What is a Duchess?


 * Who is the audience in the poem?
 * What is the scene? What clues do we have for setting?


 * [[file:9th My Last Duchess Worksheet.pages]]


 * The Duchess
 * The Count's envoy
 * Brother Pandolf

Prior to your disappearance, you wrote a letter to a friend, telling about your life with the Duke. Describe some of your experiences both in the early years of your marriage and throughout the painting of your commissioned portrait. How do you view life, and what do you think of the people around you, including your husband, the Duke? What sorts of things delighted you?
 * The Duchess**

You are the envoy of a Count, who has sent you to Duke Ferrara to negotiate a wedding between the Duke and the Count's daughter. Prior to dining with the Duke's other guests, he pulled a curtain aside and revealed to you the portrait of his last Duchess, whom he described to you. Based on your knowledge of the Duke through his own words, what kind of life can the Count's daughter expect as the new Duchess? Do you recommend that she marry the Duke? Why or why not? Use the Duke's own words to prepare your argument to the Count.
 * Count's Envoy**

You are Brother Pandolf, who painted the portrait of the Duchess. You keep a journal where you write down your thoughts about all of your paintings, and the experiences that shaped their creation. You have finally decided to write down your feelings about the Duchess and her husband, the Duke Ferrara. Based on your knowledge of the events, describe the Duchess, the Duke, and their relationship. Your assessment should be based on facts, rather than speculation. HW: W rite a character profile of the **Duke**. Imagine how he speaks (tone of voice). Is he controlled? What sort of image does he project to his audience? What are his priorities?
 * Brother Pandolf**

Group: Prepare a reading of part of the lines based on your character's understanding.