40 pages 1 hour read

Robert Browning

My Last Duchess

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1842

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Reading Comprehension Questions

1. What type of poem is “My Last Duchess”?

A. A sonnet

B. A dramatic monologue

C. A haiku

D. A lyrical ballad

2. Who is the speaker in the poem addressing?

A. The reader

B. The duchess

C. he emissary of a count

D. Himself

3. What does the use of the word “Last” in the poem’s title signify?

A. The duchess is the most recent of the speaker’s wives, but she is deceased.

B. The duchess is the speaker’s estranged wife.

C. The duke will be giving up his title and therefore his wife’s as well.

D. There will not be another duchess.

4. What are the two pieces of art presented by the speaker in the poem?

A. A portrait of the last duchess and a tapestry of a family tree

B. A bronze bust of the last duchess and a painting of Zeus with his thunderbolt

C. A portrait of the last duchess and a bronze sculpture of Neptune taming a sea-horse

D. A marble bust of the duchess and a matching bust of the duke himself

5. To what is the phrase “too soon made glad” (Line 22) referring in the poem?

A. The duchess’s heart, which is easily pleased

B. The duke’s respect, which is effortlessly won

C. The listener’s love of art and appreciation of the duke’s collection

D.