6.1.3

Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons

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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

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

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

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

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”

“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?”

“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”

“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..."

  • “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..."

  • “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”

“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

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

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.
Jump to other topics
1

Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

1.1

Ozymandias Analysis

1.1.1Summary1.1.2Key Ideas1.1.3Themes1.1.4Irony & Rhythm1.1.5Key Quotes & Comparisons1.1.6End of Topic Test - Ozymandias1.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Caesura1.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying Caesura1.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Analysing Caesura
2

London - William Blake (1757-1827)

2.1

London Analysis

2.1.1Summary2.1.2Themes & Structure2.1.3Themes & Structure 22.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons2.1.5Exam-Style Questions - London2.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Repetition2.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying Repetition2.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Analysing Repetition
3

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

3.1

Storm on the Island Analysis

3.1.1Summary & Structure3.1.2Themes3.1.3Themes 23.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons3.1.5End of Topic Test - Blake & Heaney3.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Fear
4

Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

4.1

Exposure Analysis

4.1.1Summary4.1.2Personification4.1.3Themes4.1.4Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons4.1.5End of Topic Test - Exposure4.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Define Personification4.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ident. Personification
5

War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)

5.1

War Photographer Analysis

5.1.1Summary5.1.2Themes5.1.3Imagery5.1.4Comparisons & Key Quotes5.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Similes5.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying Similes
6

My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

6.1

My Last Duchess Analysis

6.1.1Summary6.1.2Characterisation & Themes6.1.3Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons6.1.4End of Topic Test - Duffy & Browning6.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cheating Wife
7

The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

7.1

Extract from The Prelude Analysis

7.1.1Summary7.1.2Personification & Imagery7.1.3Themes7.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons7.1.5End of Topic Test - The Prelude7.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - "Her"
8

Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson

8.1

Charge of the Light Brigade Analysis

8.1.1Summary8.1.2Themes8.1.3Rhetorical Techniques, Key Quotes & Comparisons8.1.4End of Topic Test - Charge of the Light Brigade8.1.5Exam-Style Questions - Charge of the Light Brigade8.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Tennyson a Soldier?
9

Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)

9.1

Bayonet Charge Analysis

9.1.1Summary9.1.2Themes9.1.3Themes 29.1.4Structure & Key Comparisons9.1.5End of Topic Test - Bayonet Charge9.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - NOT COTLB9.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Soldier Running Away
10

Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)

10.1

Poppies Analysis

10.1.1Summary10.1.2Theme of Motherhood10.1.3Imagery10.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons10.1.5End of Topic Test - Poppies10.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining Enjambment
11

Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)

11.1

Tissue Analysis

11.1.1Summary11.1.2Themes & Symbolism11.1.3Religion & Conflict11.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons11.1.5End of Topic Test - Tissue
12

The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)

12.1

The Emigree Analysis

12.1.1Summary & Structure12.1.2Themes12.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons12.1.4End of Topic Test - The Emigree12.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Emigrant vs Immigrant
13

Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)

13.1

Kamikaze Analysis

13.1.1Summary & Structure13.1.2Themes13.1.3Themes 213.1.4Structure, Quotes & Comparisons13.1.5End of Topic Test - Kamikaze13.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Defining NP13.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Identifying NP
14

Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)

14.1

Checking Out Me History Analysis

14.1.1Summary14.1.2Themes14.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons14.1.4End of Topic Test - Checking Out Me History
15

Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)

15.1

Remains Analysis

15.1.1Summary15.1.2Themes: Desensitisation &Trauma15.1.3Themes: Guilt15.1.4Themes: Nature of War15.1.5Structure15.1.6Key Quotes & Comparisons15.1.7End of Topic Test - Remains15.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Casual Tone
16

Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1

Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons
17

Recap: Main Quotes

17.1

Recap: Main Quotes

17.1.1Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)17.1.2London - William Blake (1757-1827)17.1.3Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)17.1.4Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)17.1.5War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)17.1.6My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)17.1.7The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)17.1.8Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson17.1.9Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)17.1.10Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)17.1.11Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)17.1.12The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)17.1.13Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)17.1.14Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)17.1.15Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)

Practice questions on Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What is a dramatic monologue?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What techniques does Browning use to show the Duke's arrogance and controlling nature?True / false
  3. 3
    Complete the key quotes from My Last Duchess:Fill in the list
  4. 4
    Which of these quotes does NOT suggest that the Duke is controlling?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    On the theme of the power of memory, you could compare My Last Duchess to:Fill in the list
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Characterisation & Themes

End of Topic Test - Duffy & Browning