Robert Browning1812-1889

•Wrote his first book of poetry at age 12

•Fell in love with poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning

•Often wrote about psychotic characters

•Idolized Percy Shelley (who died when Browning was 10)

•Known for his dramatic monologues

•A speech from a single person to a silent listener

•Reveals characteristics of the speaker indirectly

•We have to be the detectives

What is a Dramatic Monologue?

My Last Duchess

What we need to know BEFORE we read:

•The speaker is giving a dramatic

monologue

•He is speaking to a silent listener

•Speaker: A powerful Italian Duke,

married 3 times, wants to marry the

Count’s daughter

•Listener: A servant of the Count

My Last DuchessFirst look at the title: find synonyms for “Last Duchess”

Picture the scene in your mind: The Duke is speaking to the servant (who does NOT speak) about a painting that is hanging on the wall.

Your Assignment:(Write it down!)

•Write a prequel (what happened before the Duke’s monologue) or a sequel (what might have happened after his monologue).

•It does NOT have to rhyme, but it CAN!!

•It MUST contain at least 3 examples of alliteration and 3 examples of assonance.