40 pages • 1 hour read
Robert BrowningMy Last Duchess
Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1842A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Writing Prompts
1. The Exaggerated Importance of Social Status and Hierarchy is an important theme explored in “My Last Duchess.” Re-read the poem and list all the instances where the concept of hierarchy plays out. Is the idea of hierarchy restricted merely to social status? How does it appear in the context of relationships? For each instance listed, make a note of whether it relates to social status, personal dynamic, or even an interaction of the two.
2. Read “Porphyria’s Lover,” another one of Browning’s dramatic monologues, and explore the similarities with “My Last Duchess.” Now consider the form and meter of both poems as well as the characterization, motivations, and social contexts of each speaker. How do form and meter contribute to differences between the two poems, with respect to the characterization, motivations, and social contexts of the speakers? Write a brief essay comparing the two pieces with sufficient examples from each poem to support your analysis.
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