“My Last Duchess”; (Page 168) to whom is the duke speaking, and what is the occasion?
What does a comparison between the duke’s feelings about his artwork and his feelings about his last duchess reveal about his character?
Does the poem rely on irony? Explain.
Browning is said to have meant that the “commands” of line 45 are that the duchess be executed or sent to a convent. Write a poem, short piece of prose, or journal entry, from her point of view, addressing the painting of the portrait and her relationship with the speaker.
Sample Solution
