"My Last Duchess" Annotation

What form is “My Last Duchess” written in?

• Sonnet

• Free verse

• Dramatic monologue

• Ode

Who is the speaker in the poem?

• Fra Pandolf

• The Duchess

• The Count

• The Duke of Ferrara

What does the Duke reveal about the Duchess’s portrait?

• It is a copy of an older painting

• Only he is allowed to draw the curtain to reveal it

• The Duchess painted it herself

• It is hidden behind a locked door

What does the Duke suggest was the Duchess’s flaw?

• She was unfaithful

• She was vain about her beauty

• She valued everyone and everything equally

• She refused to speak

What literary device is most strongly used in “Her looks went everywhere”?

• Simile

• Hyperbole

• Euphemism

• Metaphor

Why does the Duke mention Fra Pandolf’s name deliberately?

• To highlight the cost of the painting

• To impress the Count’s envoy with the painter’s reputation

• To hint at impropriety between the Duchess and the painter

• To downplay the Duchess’s reaction

What does the Duke imply by “I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together”?

• He imprisoned the Duchess

• He sent her away to a convent

• He had her silenced or killed

• He painted over the smile

Which of the following best describes the Duke’s tone throughout the poem?

• Joyful and proud

• Calm but controlling

• Sad and regretful

• Nervous and uncertain

The Duke's attitude toward the Duchess’s gratitude suggests he:

• Appreciated her humility

• Thought her emotions were excessive

• Believed she disrespected his noble heritage

• Understood her innocence

What is ironic about the Duke’s criticism of the Duchess?

• He pretends to be humble but boasts about his name

• He claims to dislike art but shows off her portrait

• He accuses her of vanity while admiring her appearance

• He condemns her kindness, revealing his own cruelty