Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons

Structure, Form and Voice in My Last Duchess

Browning uses structure and form to enhance his portrayal of the Duke as power hungry and proud. He also uses structure and form to increase our shock at the Duke's actions:

Dramatic monologue

The poem is written in the form of a dramatic monologue (a form of poetry where an imagined speaker addresses a silent audience).
This heightens the reader's shock at the Duke’s actions because it feels as though he is speaking to us directly.

First person narrative

The use of the first person contributes to the conversational style.
This suggests the Duke felt his actions were normal and acceptable.
This contrasts with the reader's shock.

Iambic pentameter

The poem is written in iambic pentameter. Iambic pentameter was often used in Shakespeare’s plays to indicate a character’s wealth and high status.
Browning uses it to highlight the Duke’s obsession with his reputation and how he was viewed.

Voice

The form and structure also emphasise the sense of the Duke’s power: his is the only voice in the poem.
This suggests he is controlling as he does not allow anyone else to interrupt his narrative.

Key Quotations in My Last Duchess

Here are some quotations you might want to remember for your exam:

“That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall”

Possessive pronoun.
Use of possessive pronoun “my” throughout links to the Duke’s view that his wife belonged to him.

“Will't please you sit and look at her?”

Rhetorical question.
The Duke is posing this as a question, but it is really a command. Emphasises his power and his pride.

“Since none puts by / The curtain I have drawn for you, but I”

Curtain symbol.
Shows he controlled her even in death.

“As if she ranked / My gift..."

“As if she ranked / My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name / With anybody’s gift.”
Irony.
Implies the Duke is jealous, despite his arrogance.

“This grew; I gave commands..."

“This grew; I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together.”
This is one of the most famous lines in the poem – it implies that he had her killed.
The use of caesura and short phrases highlight the swiftness, coldness and ruthlessness with which he disposed of her life.

“Notice Neptune, though, taming a sea-horse”

Boastful language to end the poem.

Key Comparisons: My Last Duchess

Here are some themes that come up in My Last Duchess and other texts.

Human power and the misuse of power

On the theme of human power and the misuse of power, you might want to compare My Last Duchess to:
- Ozymandias.
- London.

Power of memory

On the theme of the power of memory, you might want to compare My Last Duchess to:
- War Photographer.
- Kamikaze.
- The Emigree.
- Remains.

1Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

1.1Ozymandias Analysis

1.1.1Summary

1.1.2Key Ideas

1.1.3Themes

1.1.4Irony & Rhythm

1.1.5Key Quotes & Comparisons

1.1.6End of Topic Test - Ozymandias

2London - William Blake (1757-1827)

2.1London Analysis

2.1.1Summary

2.1.2Themes & Structure

2.1.3Themes & Structure 2

2.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

2.1.5Exam-Style Questions - London

3Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)

3.1Storm on the Island Analysis

3.1.1Summary & Structure

3.1.2Themes

3.1.3Themes 2

3.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Blake & Heaney

4Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

4.1Exposure Analysis

4.1.1Summary

4.1.2Personification

4.1.3Themes

4.1.4Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons

4.1.5End of Topic Test - Exposure

5War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)

5.1War Photographer Analysis

5.1.1Summary

5.1.2Themes

5.1.3Imagery

5.1.4Comparisons & Key Quotes

6My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

6.1My Last Duchess Analysis

6.1.1Summary

6.1.2Characterisation & Themes

6.1.3Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons

6.1.4End of Topic Test - Duffy & Browning

7The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

7.1Extract from The Prelude Analysis

7.1.1Summary

7.1.2Personification & Imagery

7.1.3Themes

7.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

7.1.5End of Topic Test - The Prelude

8Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson

8.1Charge of the Light Brigade Analysis

8.1.1Summary

8.1.2Themes

8.1.3Rhetorical Techniques, Key Quotes & Comparisons

8.1.4End of Topic Test - Charge of the Light Brigade

8.1.5Exam-Style Questions - Charge of the Light Brigade

9Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)

9.1Bayonet Charge Analysis

9.1.1Summary

9.1.2Themes

9.1.3Themes 2

9.1.4Structure & Key Comparisons

9.1.5End of Topic Test - Bayonet Charge

10Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)

10.1Poppies Analysis

10.1.1Summary

10.1.2Theme of Motherhood

10.1.3Imagery

10.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons

10.1.5End of Topic Test - Poppies

11Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)

11.1Tissue Analysis

11.1.1Summary

11.1.2Themes & Symbolism

11.1.3Religion & Conflict

11.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons

11.1.5End of Topic Test - Tissue

12The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)

12.1The Emigree Analysis

12.1.1Summary & Structure

12.1.2Themes

12.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

12.1.4End of Topic Test - The Emigree

13Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)

13.1Kamikaze Analysis

13.1.1Summary & Structure

13.1.2Themes

13.1.3Themes 2

13.1.4Structure, Quotes & Comparisons

13.1.5End of Topic Test - Kamikaze

14Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)

14.1Checking Out Me History Analysis

14.1.1Summary

14.1.2Themes

14.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

14.1.4End of Topic Test - Checking Out Me History

15Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)

15.1Remains Analysis

15.1.1Summary

15.1.2Themes: Desensitisation &Trauma

15.1.3Themes: Guilt

15.1.4Themes: Nature of War

15.1.5Structure

15.1.6Key Quotes & Comparisons

15.1.7End of Topic Test - Remains

16Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

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