1. My Last Duchess by Robert Browning
When you hear the word ‘duchess’, what do you think of? What do you expect?
Duchess

2. My Last Duchess by Robert Browning
In pairs, sort these words from the poem into categories.
e.g. colours
Last Hands Look Glad Painted Stands Glance Name She Design Passion Cherries Alive Pictured You White Wonder Sit Husband Blush Cheek Wrist Paint Gift Throat Faint Joy Disgusts Commands Object My Bronze Stooping Rise Smiled
Miss
Based on your word groups, what do you think the poem is about?
How does this link to control?

3. My Last Duchess by Robert Browning
What connotations are there from these phrases?
spot of joy
too soon made glad
lady’s wrist
approving speech
half-flush
she smiled
Is this Duchess a positive or negative character? Why?

4. My Last Duchess by Robert Browning
too soon made glad
How can this link to the theme of control?
What connotations are there from these phrases?
Is this Duchess a positive or negative character? Why?

5. My Last Duchess by Robert Browning
What connotations are there from these phrases?
That’s my last duchess
sit and look at her
My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name
you disgust me
I gave commands
all smiles stopped
Is the Lord a positive or negative character? Why?

6. My Last Duchess by Robert Browning
My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name
How can this link to the theme of control?
What connotations are there from these phrases?
Is the Lord a positive or negative character? Why?

7. Thinking time: My Last Duchess by Robert Browning
What are the Duchess’ faults, according to the Lord?
Why does he keep her painting on the wall behind a curtain? (“That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall”)
How can this link to the theme of control?

8. My Last Duchess by Robert Browning

9. ‘My Last Duchess’ Context
This poem is based on historical events.
Duke Alfonso II of Modena and Ferrara (1559–1597) married Lucrezia de Doctors in June 1558.
She was the first of his three wives and is believed to be ‘the last duchess’ of the poem.
She died four years after her wedding.
The Duke’s second wife also died.
The Duke married his last wife, Eleanora Gonzaga, in 1572 – and she outlived him! 
Browning’s involves the reader by drawing us into the conversation – we feel as if we are being addressed directly.

10. My Last Duchess by Robert Browning
TASK: explore the theme of CONTROL in My Last Duchess by Robert Browning
In ‘My Last Duchess’, control is shown by …
When Browning writers “…”, it reveals…
The concept of control in this relationship links to the male-female relationship is ‘Les Grandes
Seigneurs’, because...

11. PLENARY: alternative thinking
My Last Duchess by Robert Browning
WALT: explore the theme of CONTROL in My Last Duchess by Robert Browning
PLENARY: alternative thinking
He controls her…
…does she control him in any way?

12. My Last Duchess by Robert Browning
Extension Questions
Find clues about how the Duke feels about the picture of his last Duchess.
Find clues which tell you about the personality of the woman.
How did the Duke feel about her behaviour?
What might have happened to her?
What does the Duke say about how people react to the portrait?
What impression do we get of the character of the Duke?
Themes: What other key themes are represented here?