1. In what year the poem was written and where does the poem occur?
Ans. The poem was written in 1842 and published in Bells and Pomegranates III under dramatic lyrics with the title ‘Italy’. It was latter included in Dramatic Romances in 1868.
2. What type of poem is ‘My last Duchess’?
Ans. My Last Duchess is a dramatic monologue. Dramatic monologue is a poem in which an imagined speaker addresses a silent listener, usually not the reader. The speaker inadvertently reveals aspects of their character while describing a particular situation or series of events.
3. Who is the speaker? What is the situation?
Ans. The speaker is the Duke of Ferrara. He speaks to the ambassador of a foreign count. Whose daughter is being sought in marriage by the widowed Duke of Ferrara.
4. Where is Ferrara? Why was it important?
Ans: Ferrara is a fortified city of Lower Lomberdy. It was for long the seat of one of the most cultured Italian courts of the Renaissance.
5. Can you identify the Duke in the poem?
Ans: The Duke in the poem might be Alfonso II, the fifth Duke of Ferrara. He had three wives and was thought to have poisoned the first.
6. “My last Duchess.”-Who says this? What does it imply?
Ans: The Duke says this to the envoy of a foreign count. He shows to him the painting of the last duchess.
7. “Looking as she were alive.”-About whom is this said? What does it suggest?
Ans: The Duke says this about the painting of his last wife. Her painting seems life-like. It may suggest the cynical matter-of-factness of the man. It may also suggest that the Duke is a lover of art.
8. “That piece of a wonder.” To what does it refer? How does the speaker appreciate the piece?
Ans: The duke refers to the painting of the last Duchess. It is a wonderful piece. Here ‘a wonder’ is an abstract noun used as concrete noun (Synecdoche).
9. “Fra Pandolf’ by design.”-Who is fra Pandolf?
Ans: He is an imaginary character. Fra means Friar, monk by making the painter a friar Browning probably wanted to emphasise that there was no causes for jealousy.
10. How does the Duke describe the painting of the last duchess?
Ans: The painter captured the depth and ardent look of the duchess. No stranger could read how they came to the painted face.
11. “If they durst.” Who says this and about whom? What does the remark suggest about the character of the speaker?
Ans: The Duke says this about the strangers who saw the painting. They cannot read how the depth and earnest glance came to the painted face of the duchess. They would ask the duke if they dare. This remark suggests the pride of the duke.
12. What is the Duke’s explanation of the depth and earnest glance in the painted face of the duchess?
Ans: The duke explains to the visitor that the depth and passion of her earnest glance was not reserved for her husband only. The slightest courtesy or attention was sufficient to call up the spot of joy in her face. Perhaps Fra Pandolf while painting the face of the duchess said some words of praise about her cloak covering the wrist or dim blush on her cheek. She was flattered.
13. How does the Duke depict the character of the last duchess? If it is real compliment or ironical remark?
Ans: The Duke says that the Duchess was easily made glad, too easily impressed. She liked all and smiled on all.
This is an indirect way of saying that the Duke did not like her gaiety and graciousness. He was jealous.
14. How does the Duke rank his favour to the last duchess with her favours to all alike?
Ans: The last Duchess liked everything-the setting sun, the bough of cherries that some attendant brought her, the white mule she rode – all were equally liked by the lady. But she gave same value to his expensive gifts as she appreciated others’ small gifts. As a matter of fact, the lady was gay and lively by nature but the Duke did not like her gaiety. He was jealous and possessive.
15. Does the Duke in describing the character of the duchess describes himself?
Ans: The Duke describes his narrowness, jealousy and possessiveness. He did not like his wife’s gracious behaviour to others.
16. What is meant by ‘Officious’?
Ans: ‘Officious’ means importunate in offering service. ‘Officious fool’ means a servant who brings gifts unsought.
17. “She ranked my gift of a nine-hundred years old name with anybody’s gift”.-What aspect of the character of the speaker is revealed here?
Ans: The Duke is the speaker. He cannot tolerate that his rich gift to his wife would be treated equally with the gifts of others. He has ancestry of nine hundred years. The Duke is proud of his ancestry.
18. Why did not the Duke scold his wife for his dislike of her favours to all?
Ans: The Duke was proud and considered rebuking the wife for this trifling beneath his dignity.
19. “Or that in me disgusts me, here you miss / Or there exceed the mark.” – What does the speaker mean here?
Ans: The Duke is the speaker. He is proud of his position and ancestry. He could not stoop like other common husbands to find fault with her wife.
20. “This grew’-Who is the speaker? To what does it refer?
Ans: The Duke is the speaker. The speaker means that the joyous nature of the duchess continued.
21. “I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together?” – What is suggested here? How does this indicate the character of the speaker?
Ans: The Duke gave orders and the Duchess was killed.
This is said by the Duke in cold, callous, matter-of-fact manner as if getting one killed is no matter of importance. The Duke is cruel and heartless.
22. “There she stands alive.” – Who is the speaker? About what is it said?
Ans: The Duke is the speaker. The Duke discusses the memory of his wife and turns to the living painting of his wife.
23. What is meant by ‘known munificence’?
Ans: Munificence means generosity, bounty. The count whose ambassador comes to negotiate a marriage with the widowed Duke is well-known for his bounty.
24. “Pretence of mine for dowry.” – What is meant here? What aspect of the character of the speaker is revealed here?
Ans: Pretence of mine for dowry means my claim for marriage-gifts. This reveals the greed of the speaker.
25. Nay, We’ll go together down. – Who says this? Does it reveal any aspect of the character of the speaker?
Ans: The Duke asks the visitor who is an ambassador of a count to go down together below. The Duke here renounces his position as the Duke and agrees to go down with one who is much below his rank.
26. “Notice, Neptune, though/Taming a sea horse, thought a rarity” – Who says this and to whom? What does the speaker show to the visitor? Does it reveal any aspect of the character of the speaker?
Ans: The duke says this to the ambassador with whom he goes down. He shows to him a bronze statue taming Neptune, the sun god represented as a sea horse.
This shows that the Duke is a lover of art and he draws the attention of the visitor to the bronze statue. It may have double meaning. He wants the visitor to appreciate the statue. It may also mean that he would also tame his wife.