The literary techniques and figures of speech included in Robert Browning’s poem “My Last Duchess” are: Looking as if she were alive. I call The depth and passion of its earnest glance, 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, 'twas not Her husband's presence only, called that spot Of joy into the Duchess' cheek: perhaps "Half-flush that dies along her throat:'' such stuff She had A heart---how shall I say?---too soon made glad, Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er The dropping of the daylight in the West, all and each Would draw from her alike the approving speech, Or blush, at least. Who'd stoop to blame This sort of trifling? Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse, ---E'en then would be some stooping; and I choose Never to stoop. There she stands, As if alive. Will't please you rise? We'll meet . Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, Q2) What does “Fra Pandolf by design” mean in “My Last Duchess”? Ans) The Duke explains to the listener why he brought up the painter, Frà Pandolf. He says that he mentioned Pandolf on purpose, or "by design" because strangers never really examine the Duchess's portrait without looking like they want to ask the Duke how the painter put so much "depth and passion" into the expression on the Duchess's face, or "countenance". They don’t actually ask, because they don’t dare, but the Duke thinks he can tell that they want to. Parenthetically, the Duke mentions that he’s always the one there to answer this question because nobody else is allowed to draw back the curtain that hangs over the portrait. Only the Duke is allowed to look at it or show it to anyone else. Q3) In “My Last Duchess”, do you think there is any special significance to the last three lines? Ans) The last three lines reveal the most about the Duke, hence are quite significant. The last words in the duke’s negotiations are a further evidence for his desire for control. The thrust of the art object is dominance-the duke desires to be Neptune, god of the sea. Furthermore, he duke sees himself as a god who has tamed his duchess. As he have already exercised the power over life and death. Duke’s arrogance and chauvinism is also shown when he ranks his dead wife as being at par with a splendid bronze sculpture of Neptune that he proudly, through carelessly, alludes to at the conclusion of the poem. Q4) Describe the Duke’s character in Browning’s “My Last Duchess”. Ans) The duke is a very proud, vain and egotistical lord who views his ex-wife as an object or "trophy" rather than as a person. Super-macho and so blasé as to not even be aware of it, he takes pride in showing his house guest various family heirlooms, among them being her portrait done by a reputed artist named Fra Pandolf. The duke evidently wants to show off his wealth, his acquisitions, and his elitism, flaunting the fact of having rubbed elbows with such famous people. In the same breath he "