November 1, 2016
Good morning!
-We will review Vocabulary 7 on Wednesday; your quiz on Vocabulary 7 is on Thursday.
-Today we begin reading "My Last Duchess"
-The Image Analysis/First Reading Graphic Organizer is due at the beginning of class Tuesday.
-We will review Vocabulary 7 on Wednesday; your quiz on Vocabulary 7 is on Thursday.
-Today we begin reading "My Last Duchess"
-The Image Analysis/First Reading Graphic Organizer is due at the beginning of class Tuesday.
Learning standards:
2. I can determine the meanings of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; I can use context to determine possible meanings of unfamiliar words or expressions.
Essential Question:
What is a dramatic monologue?
What is a dramatic monologue?
Learning
Targets:
-I can
define the term “dramatic monologue.”
-I can identify unfamiliar words and phrases in the text and define them using various strategies.
1. Portrait Comparison
First, we are going to look at portraits of the historical figures rumored to be the inspiration for this poem. Look closely at these Renaissance portraits. What do you think their personalities are like from looking at their portraits? You will come up with three adjectives to describe each.
List 3 adjectives you would use to describe each of the above characters.
Three Adjectives
Describing the Man on the Left |
Three Adjectives
Describing the Woman on the Right |
Historical Background
It's been suggested that the inspiration for Browning’s poem was Alfonso II d’Este, Duke of Ferrara (1533-1597), and his first wife, Lucrezia di Cosimo de’ Medici (1545-1561).
(2) The Victorian Era, Robert Browning, the Dramatic Monologue
Robert Browning was a poet during the Victorian Era, which was so notoriously repressive that even the lingerie brand "Victoria's Secret" is a tongue-in-cheek allusion to the over-the-top notions of modesty women were held to.
"My Last Duchess" is a dramatic monologue. This means that everything we know about the world of the poem comes from the character who speaks, and inferences we make based on what he says.
Bear in mind that "Browning is not primarily concerned to tell a story. . . or describe a mood . . . his aim is to depict a man as he is, with such autobiographical flashbacks as may be necessary to explain the character of the speaker" (Ian Jack, Browning's Major Poetry, p. 196).
By using the Duke as the dramatic persona (the speaker) of the poem, Browning is able to represent some of the worst Victorian attitudes toward women through the speech of a character from Renaissance Italy.
(3) First Reading (just read along)
As we listen to this performance of the poem, please read along on your own copy.
https://youtu.be/RbTHQjobJlM
(4) Second Reading: Vocabulary
For our second reading of the poem, please take out a pencil or pen, and underline any of the words you don't understand.
After you've underlined the words you don't know, we will come together as a class and go through the poem, writing the definitions of those terms on your copy of the poem.
My Last Duchess by Robert Browning (1812 - 1889)
FERRARA
1 That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall,
Looking as if she were alive. I call
That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf’s hands
Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
5 Will ‘t please you sit and look at her? I said
‘Frà 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 by
10 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, ‘t was not
Her husband’s presence only, called that spot
15 Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek: perhaps
Frà 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
20 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 whate’er
She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.
25 Sir, ‘t was 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 round the terrace—all and each
30 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 nine-hundred-years-old name
With anybody’s gift. Who’d stoop to blame
35 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
40 Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set
Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse,
—E’en then would be some stooping; and I choose
Never to stoop. Oh, sir, she smiled, no doubt,
Whene’er I passed her; but who passed without
45 Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands;
Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands
As if alive. Will ‘t please you rise? We’ll meet
The company below then. I repeat,
The Count your master’s known munificence
50 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,
55 Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!
Looking as if she were alive. I call
That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf’s hands
Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
5 Will ‘t please you sit and look at her? I said
‘Frà 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 by
10 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, ‘t was not
Her husband’s presence only, called that spot
15 Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek: perhaps
Frà 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
20 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 whate’er
She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.
25 Sir, ‘t was 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 round the terrace—all and each
30 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 nine-hundred-years-old name
With anybody’s gift. Who’d stoop to blame
35 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
40 Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set
Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse,
—E’en then would be some stooping; and I choose
Never to stoop. Oh, sir, she smiled, no doubt,
Whene’er I passed her; but who passed without
45 Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands;
Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands
As if alive. Will ‘t please you rise? We’ll meet
The company below then. I repeat,
The Count your master’s known munificence
50 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,
55 Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!
Vocabulary for next week, Quiz on November 10th
- countenance (noun) – face
- earnest (adjective) – serious in intention, purpose, or effort; showing depth and sincerity of feeling
- durst (verb) - dare
- mantle (noun) – a loose, sleeveless cloak or cape
- flush (noun) – a redness on a person’s face because of emotion
- bough (noun) – a branch of a tree, especially one of the larger or main branches
- officious (adjective) – objectionably aggressive in offering one’s unrequested and unwanted services, help, or advice; meddlesome
- trifling (noun) – idle or frivolous conduct, talk, etc.
- will (noun) – a person’s choice or desire in a particular situation
- lessoned (verb) – taught; instructed; given a lesson; admonished; reproved
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