My Last Duchess - Poem by Robert Browning

Robert Browning's poem, My Last Duchess, is a dramatic monologue where the narrator, an obsessive Duke, asks an observer to look upon a painting of his former wife.

The poem achieves a quiet sense of threat and violence. As he recounts his memories of the Duchess we slowly come to realise the extent of his power over her and frustrations at his inability to control her. We are left questioning what has happened to his former wife, as the poem ends with the Duke discussing the next object of his affections.

[PunkMarioBros]

This is the poem that got me into poetry, I remember doing it in English as a 16 year old and fell in love. It influenced me as a songwriter too, lyrics are just poetry when you strip away the music.

[TeachSmith]

This video really helped my students visualise the events of the poem: thank you

[denisasorici]

This will help me at literature exam 😀

[sansumida]

There is a comma before "now" but it is not emphasised!

In line 3 "that piece a wonder, now".

[Hel_lopeople]

Even after I finished my lit gcse today I still like to listen to this