Video: My Last Duchess (Part 1)

﻿Hi, everyone. Miss Walker here. Welcome to the introductory lesson on "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning. It is possibly my favourite poem in the whole anthology for power and conflict, so I hope you enjoy learning about it as much as I do teaching it. As always, you'll need a pen and paper or something to write on or write with, and also try and make sure that your working area is free of any distractions before you get started. The key question for today is how does Browning present the Duke in "My Last Duchess"? We'll start with the key vocabulary and terminology that we need for today's lesson before looking at the context and the background to help us understand the key ideas in the poem. In part three, I will read the poem to you before we go on to look at the meaning of the poem in part four. Putting together all of our learning from the previous parts in the lesson, you will complete your writing task in part five. And in part six, there will be a short review quiz. In this lesson, we'll be learning the words egotistical and the term dramatic monologue. To be egotistical is to have the quality of thinking only about yourself. So you're being self-centered and self-absorbed. In example one, he seemed very egotistical and interrupted her with stories about himself constantly. In example two, Ozymandias might be described as egotistical as he commands people to look at his kingdom and be fearful of his accomplishments and power. The new term for today is dramatic monologue, which is a type of poetry in which a single speaker narrates the entire text to a silent listener without any interruption. Important to note that the prefix mono means one or alone. So it's just one speaker in a dramatic monologue. In example one, in the dramatic monologue, the character revealed that he was egotistical and selfish. Example two, dramatic monologues can be used to expose the dark and sinister ambitions of speakers. Let's apply your understanding of the word egotistical. Which two synonyms can be used for egotistical? One, self-accomplished, two, self-monologue, three, self-centered, or four, self-absorbed. Pause the video to complete the task. Remember to choose two synonyms. Well done. The answers are three, self-centered and four, self-absorbed. Now write a sentence of your own that uses the word egotistical. Use the image of the person looking at themselves in the mirror to help you. Pause the video now to complete this task. Which of the following options from A to F are features of a dramatic monologue? Pause the video now to complete the task. The correct responses are B, can be used to expose the dark and sinister ambitions of speakers, C, a single speaker narrates the entire text to a silent listener, and F, the speaker is not interrupted by anyone else in the text. In part two, we're going to find out more about Robert Browning, the poet himself, and we're also going to take a look at who the story is based on. Robert Browning was an English poet who wrote during the Victorian era. Browning is well known for his use of dramatic monologue, and he often wrote about controlling or possessive characters in his poems. He also explored some darker ideas around love, lust, and death. "My Last Duchess" is a dramatic monologue told by a tormented and disturbed Duke. It is based upon an Italian Duke who married a young girl, Lucrezia de' Medici, in 1558. Her death was suspicious and some claim that she had even been poisoned by the Duke. However, this was never proven. We now know that the poem is set in Italy in the 1500s, or otherwise known as the 16th century. Browning lived and wrote in Victorian England, which is almost 300 years after Duke Alfonso lived. Browning therefore has chosen to set his poem in the past. However, the ideas he explores about male power and control over women are still very relevant in his own society. Before we read the poem, there's some contextual questions that you need to answer. I'll read out the questions, then you'll pause the video to answer them. Question one, what era was Robert Browning alive in? Two, what form was the poem "My Last Duchess" written in? Three, what themes were common in Browning's poetry? Four, who is the poem "My Last Duchess" based upon? And five, which century is the poem set in? Pause the video to answer the questions. Here are the answers to those questions. One, Robert Browning was alive in the Victorian era. Two, the poem is a dramatic monologue. Three, the following themes were common in Browning's poetry, love, lust, possession, and death. The poem is based on the Duke of Ferrara and his young wife, Lucrezia de' Medici. And the poem is set in 16th century Italy. I'm now going to read the poem to you. This section of the dramatic monologue is when the Duke is talking to his listener and is showing him the painting. He's explaining how the artist, Fra Pandolf, has captured his Duchess', or his last Duchess' expressions very well. "That's my last Duchess painted on the wall, "looking as if she were alive. "I call that piece a wonder now. "Fra Pandolf's hands worked busily a day, "and there she stands. "Will it please you to sit and look at her? "I said Fra Pandolf by design, "for never read strangers like you "that pictured countenance, "the depth and passion of its earnest glance, "but to myself they turned, "since none puts the curtain I have drawn for you, but I, "and seemed as they would ask me, if they durst, "how such a glance came there. "So, not the first are you to turn and ask thus. "Sir, 'twas not her husband's presence only, "called that spot of joy into the Duchess' cheek. "Perhaps Fra Pandolf chanced to say, "her mantle laps over my lady's wrist too much, "or, paint must never hope to reproduce "the faint half-flush that dies along her throat. "Such stuff." Here, the Duke explains that the painting depicts her with half a flush, like a rosy glow on her cheeks. "Such stuff was courtesy, she thought, "and cause enough for calling up that spot of joy. "She had a heart, how shall I say, too soon made glad, "too easily impressed. "She liked whatever she looked on, "and her looks went everywhere. "Sir, 'twas all one! "My favour at her breast, "the dropping of the daylight in the West, "the bough of cherries some officious fool "broke in the orchard for her, "the white mule she rode with around the terrace. "All and each would draw from her alike "the approving speech or blush, at least. "She thanked men, good, "but thanked somehow, I know not how, "as if she ranked my gift of a 900-years-old name "with anybody's gift. "Who'd stoop to blame this sort of trifling? "Even had you skill in speech, which I have not, "to make your will quite clear to such an one, "and say, just this or that in you disgusts me. "Here you miss, or there exceed the mark. "And if she let herself be lessoned so, "nor plainly set her wits to yours, "forsooth, and made excuse, "e'en when there be some stooping, "and I chose never to stoop. "Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt, whenever I passed her, "but who passed without much the same smile? "This grew, I gave commands, "then all smiles stopped together. "There she stands as if alive. "Will it please you to rise? "We'll meet the company below, then. "I repeat, the Count your master's known munificence "is ample warrant that no just pretence of mine "for dowry will be disallowed. "Though his fair daughter's self, "as I avowed at starting, is my object. "Nay, we'll go together down, sir. "Notice Neptune, though. "Taming a seahorse, thought a rarity, "which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!" Don't worry if you're not quite sure what's going on yet in the poem, 'cause this section, part four, will help you establish meaning and understanding of what the Duke is telling his listener. Here's the poem summary. Lines one to five. The speaker, the Duke of Ferrara, directs the attention of a silent guest to a painting of his former wife, which hangs on the wall. The Duke praises the painting for looking so lifelike. The Duke asks the guest to sit and admire the piece of work. In lines 6 to 34, the Duke goes on to tell his listener about his wife's behaviour, which he thinks was unacceptable. He describes how she treated other men as equal to himself. Specifically, he complains that she valued his family status and social position, the 900-year-old name, as equally important to anyone else's gifts to her. In the next section, 35 to 47, while the Duchess did smile at him whenever they passed, she also smiled at others even more. He was unable to explain the anger as he was too proud and saw that that would be lowering himself to speak about those feelings to her. So rather than address them and speak to her, he gives orders and all her smiles stop forever. Presumably because he has had her killed. Now, the Duchess can only live on in the painting on the wall. Finally, in lines 47 to 56, he and the listener then move away from the painting. The Duke discusses the dowry for his wedding to his guest's daughter. And the Duke points out on the way downstairs to the rest of the guests, he points out a statue he owns of Neptune, which is the Greek god of sea, and Neptune is taming a seahorse. Okay, true or false task here. If the answer is false, correct the statement. One, the guest asks to see the painting. Two the Duke describes how his wife has not treated him any differently from other men. Three, the Duke explains that his wife had not been grateful of his 900-years-old name. Four, the Duke admits to killing his wife because he is jealous of the other men. Five, the Duke shows the listener more of his artwork. Pause the video to decide whether these statements are true or false. Remember, if the answer is false, correct the statement. So number one is false. The listener does not speak in the poem, so how could they possibly ask to view the painting? We should know that because it's a dramatic monologue. Two and three are both true. Number four is false. He never admits to actually killing her. He says he put an end to her smiles, so that doesn't necessarily mean death. By now, we should have a basic understanding of what happens throughout the poem. Lines one to two, "That's my last Duchess painted on the wall, "looking as if she were alive." Two questions for you to answer here. Firstly, my is a possessive pronoun. What does the pronoun tell the reader about the Duke, focusing on the word possessive there. And two, what does the line, "looking as if she were alive," imply about the Duke's actions? Pause the video to complete the questions. The possessive pronoun my tells the reader that the Duke perceives the Duchess to be the property that he owns, that she belongs to him. Second answer, "Looking as if she were alive," implies that she is no longer alive. However, the reader does not yet know what has happened to her. Lines 21 to 24, "She had a heart, how shall I say, "too soon made glad, too easily impressed. "She liked whatever she looked on, "and her looks went everywhere." Question one, the Duke hesitates when he says, "How shall I say?" He seems to be struggling to express his feelings. Why might this be? Two, what do these lines suggest that the Duke wants from a wife? Three, how does this demonstrate his egotistical, self-absorbed nature? Pause the video to complete the questions. One, perhaps showing his emotions by pausing means that he has lost control over them. He does not want to appear out of control to his listener, so he thinks carefully about what he wants to say. Two, the Duke desires his wife to be obedient and to focus entirely on him. He wants a wife that reinforces his feelings of power and importance. And finally, in wanting his wife's full attention, he can be described as thinking only about himself. Lines 32 to 34, "Somehow, I know not how, "as if she ranked my gift of a 900-years-old name "with anybody's gift." While the Duke is very proud of his name, as he believes that importance and power are based on your social status and your family background. Question one, why is the Duke surprised at the Duchess? Two, he believes that his name was a gift to the Duchess. Why is this an arrogant attitude to have, to think that your name that you give to someone is a gift? Pause the video here to complete those two questions. Question one, the Duke is surprised that the Duchess does not place the same respect on social status and family background. Secondly, it is arrogant to think that your name is a gift because it suggests that he believed that your heritage is so superior, that people should be grateful for receiving the name and becoming part of your family. Final set of lines, 45 to 47. "This grew, I gave commands, "then all smiles stopped together. "There she stands as if alive. "Will it please you rise?" Question one, what does the Duke imply that he did? Question two, what does the Duke then ask his listener to do? And finally, what do these actions tell the reader about the Duke? What kind of behaviour is he showing here to the reader? Pause the video to complete the questions. One, he implies that he has had his wife killed. Two, he asks his listener to rise, which means to stand up. And both of these actions of implying that he's had his wife killed, but also asking someone to stand up, they suggest that the Duke is quite a controlling person. The reader can infer that the Duke is obsessed with power from this and by ownership as well because he seeks to dominate and control with an unquestioned authority. We've read the poem "My Last Duchess" and hopefully we're starting to secure an understanding and meaning behind the poem. We're now going to take that information and apply it to a writing task. In part five here, I'd like you to write a short paragraph describing how the Duke is presented in the poem. Use at least one quotation from the poem to support your response. Here are a few bullet points that you might wish to include, or help guide you. Whether the Duke appears powerful in the poem, how the Duke tries to demonstrate his power, and any weakness or vulnerability we can see in the Duke. You must use all of the words below in your summary. Egotistical, dramatic monologue, and control. Pause the video and spend roughly 10 to 15 minutes writing the short paragraph. Here are two examples or two possible answers that you can compare your own written response to. The first answer. In the dramatic monologue, the Duke is presented as egotistical and controlling. He invites the listener to look at the picture of his last Duchess. He speaks for a long period of time to tell the listener of his previous wife's bad behaviour. The Duke struggles to share his feelings because he does not want to lose control. Rather than speaking to his wife, he has her killed. This shows that he is controlling because he does not want his wife's attention or focus to leave him. Here is a second example, which is a more developed response to the task. In the dramatic monologue, the Duke is presented as egotistical and controlling. He invites the listener to look at the picture of his last Duchess. He uses the pronoun my to indicate his possessive nature. He speaks for a long period of time, uninterrupted, to tell the listener of his previous wife's disgraceful behaviour. He struggles to share his feelings. However, the reader learns that he expresses his emotions through violence as his controlling and egotistical personality drive him to have his Duchess killed. Ultimately, he is presented as an unstable character. Final part of the lesson. You've got a short review quiz to complete. Once you've completed the quiz, come back to the video just to hear the final summary of the lesson. Thanks. Well done for completing the quiz. So in this lesson, we've had our first look at Browning's poem, "My Last Duchess," and it is a challenging, large piece of text, but hopefully we're starting to understand what the messages are in the poem about control and the Duke's egotistical nature. In the next lesson, we'll be analysing the language, form, and structure that Browning has used in the poem to depict ideas of control in the text. I'll see you then.

Exit Quiz: My Last Duchess (Part 1)

Completed: My Last Duchess (Part 1)

In this lesson, we will explore the meaning and key ideas presented in Robert Browning's poem 'My Last Duchess' (1842). You will be provided with key information about the meaning of the poem to help develop your understanding of this 19th century text.

English

My Last Duchess (Part 1)

Video

Final Quiz

Lesson Complete