Key InformationKey Information English LiteratureEnglish Literature Specification (Spec) BSpecification (Spec) B You will study:You will study:

* Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck)* Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck)

* ‘My Last Duchess’ and * ‘My Last Duchess’ and ‘‘Porphyria’s Lover’ ‘‘Porphyria’s Lover’

(Browning)(Browning)

* An Inspector Calls (J.B. * An Inspector Calls (J.B. Priestley)Priestley)

* ‘Best Words’ Anthology Poems* ‘Best Words’ Anthology Poems

‘‘My Last Duchess’ and My Last Duchess’ and ‘Porphyria’s Lover’‘Porphyria’s Lover’

Robert Browning is the poet.Robert Browning is the poet. The main theme in these poems is The main theme in these poems is

love.love. There are numerous poetic devices There are numerous poetic devices

used by Browning.used by Browning. We will be exploring these poems in We will be exploring these poems in

depth over the next few lessons.depth over the next few lessons. You will then complete an essay for You will then complete an essay for

your coursework folder that will count your coursework folder that will count towards your final mark/grade.towards your final mark/grade.

Think about:Think about: Different types of relationshipsDifferent types of relationships Unrequited loveUnrequited love Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra,

Mary and JosephMary and Joseph Rom ComsRom Coms MarriageMarriage Celebrity couples (Jordan and Peter/Alex)Celebrity couples (Jordan and Peter/Alex) Love for a sport/material thing/food!Love for a sport/material thing/food! True loveTrue love Young loveYoung love

In pairs…In pairs…

Create a mind map of words, images Create a mind map of words, images and symbols that explain what love and symbols that explain what love is.is.

After this…After this…

Create your own definition of love Create your own definition of love using no more than 10 words.using no more than 10 words.

The dictionary says:The dictionary says:

1.1. To have great attachment to and affection To have great attachment to and affection forfor

2.2. To have passionate desire, longing, and To have passionate desire, longing, and feelings for.feelings for.

3.3. To like or desire (to do something) very To like or desire (to do something) very much.much.

4.4. To make love to.To make love to.5.5. To be in love.To be in love.6.6. An intense emotion of affection, warmth, An intense emotion of affection, warmth,

fondness, and regard towards a person or fondness, and regard towards a person or thing.thing.

HomeworkHomework

Find at least five facts about the life Find at least five facts about the life and times of Robert Browningand times of Robert Browning

You will be sharing these next lessonYou will be sharing these next lesson

Assessment Objectives:Assessment Objectives: AO1: Respond to texts critically, sensitively AO1: Respond to texts critically, sensitively

and in detail, selecting appropriate ways to and in detail, selecting appropriate ways to convey your response, using textual convey your response, using textual evidence (quotes) as appropriateevidence (quotes) as appropriate

AO2: Explore how language, structure and AO2: Explore how language, structure and forms contribute to the meanings of texts, forms contribute to the meanings of texts, considering different approaches to texts considering different approaches to texts and alternative interpretationsand alternative interpretations

AO3: Explore relationships and comparisons AO3: Explore relationships and comparisons between texts, selecting and evaluating between texts, selecting and evaluating relevant material (NOT wiki-pedia)!!!relevant material (NOT wiki-pedia)!!!

AO4: Relate texts to their social, cultural AO4: Relate texts to their social, cultural and historical contexts and literary and historical contexts and literary traditionstraditions

Starter ActivityStarter Activity::

Write two of your facts on a post it Write two of your facts on a post it note and stick on the boardnote and stick on the board

We will review this as a class and We will review this as a class and see how much information we have see how much information we have discovered discovered

LO:LO: To explore the To explore the context of MLD and context of MLD and predict the ideas that predict the ideas that shape the poemshape the poem

*MLD = My Last Duchess*MLD = My Last Duchess

‘‘My Last Duchess’My Last Duchess’

The language is not easy to The language is not easy to understand on first glanceunderstand on first glance

You need to absorb yourself in the You need to absorb yourself in the world of the Duke…world of the Duke…

All will become clear very soonAll will become clear very soon

The poet The poet himself…himself…

The poem is a The poem is a dramatic dramatic

monologuemonologue..

Details:Details: Browning first published poem under the Browning first published poem under the

title "I. Italy" in title "I. Italy" in 18421842 in in Dramatic LyricsDramatic Lyrics, , a collection of sixteen Browning poems. a collection of sixteen Browning poems.

Browning changed the title of the poem Browning changed the title of the poem to "My Last Duchess" before to "My Last Duchess" before republishing it in 1849 in another republishing it in 1849 in another collection, collection, Dramatic Romances and Dramatic Romances and LyricsLyrics. . Remember this fact. When you read the poem later think about the significance of the change in title. What difference would this make?

Ferrara, Ferrara, ItalyItaly

Italy is/was a Italy is/was a place of…place of…

Every dramatic monologue Every dramatic monologue has a has a speakerspeaker..

The The speakerspeaker in ‘My Last in ‘My Last Duchess’ is a Duke.Duchess’ is a Duke.

Let’s meet this man…Let’s meet this man…

The DukeThe Duke* What does this man’s facial expression tell us?

*What do his clothes reveal?

*Does he look happy?

*What does his stance do?

* Why is he stood this way?

DuchessDuchess

* What does this woman’s facial expression tell us?

*What do her clothes reveal?

*Does she look happy?

* Is this a natural portrait?!

Fra Fra PandolfPandolf

Artist

What would be What would be behind these behind these

curtains?curtains?

‘‘Her mantle laps over her Her mantle laps over her lady’s wrist too much’lady’s wrist too much’

ArroganArrogancece

My My LastLast DuchessDuchess

‘‘The dropping of The dropping of the daylight in the the daylight in the

West’West’

The Duchess likes the The Duchess likes the simple things in life…simple things in life…

‘‘the bough of the bough of cherries’cherries’

‘‘My gift of a nine hundred My gift of a nine hundred years old name’years old name’

AristocratAristocrat

• Would you enjoy a party with this man?

• What does his stature/body language show?

• Could you imagine being married to this man?

NeptuneNeptune

Roman Roman name for name for Poseidon, Poseidon, god of the god of the sea in Greek sea in Greek mythology. mythology.

Who does Who does this remind this remind you of?you of?

Starter Starter Activity:Activity:

Write the alphabet in Write the alphabet in your book like this…your book like this…

A NA N

B OB O

C PC P

D QD Q

E RE R

F SF S

G TG T

H UH U

I VI V

J WJ W

K XK X

L YL Y

M ZM Z

Try to think of a word that links to MLD for Try to think of a word that links to MLD for each letter!each letter!

LO: To analyse the LO: To analyse the form/structure, language, form/structure, language,

imagery, rhythm and imagery, rhythm and themes of MLD themes of MLD

How can I do How can I do allall that? that?

With a little bit of a With a little bit of a ‘flirt’!‘flirt’!

FF orm/structure orm/structure

LL anguage anguage

II magery magery

R R hythm hythm

TT hemes hemes

In groups of 4In groups of 4 Work through the task cardWork through the task card Make notes in your booksMake notes in your books Think about what the answer Think about what the answer

‘might’ be ‘might’ be Put down a few ideas if you all Put down a few ideas if you all

think differentlythink differently

Task Task CardsCards

Pronouns/Names

•Create a tally chart of all the pronouns in MLD

•Who else features in the MLD? List them and explain who they are.

•What does this tell you?Imagery

•Identify all of the images created

•Draw them to create a simple storyboard for the MLD (It does not have to be arty/amazing)!

Body/Actions

•Identify all of the words linked with body parts or actions

•What themes emerge?

•What do these words reveal?Rhythm

•Look at the last words of every line – what do you notice?

•Read each line aloud in turns – how many beats are in each line?

•Why is the monologue structured in this way?

Vocabulary/Words: You may need a dictionary!

•Identify all of the words that are difficult/you don’t know the meaning of

•Find the meaning

•Why are they used by Browning?

Death/Violence

•Identify all of the words that link to death/violence

•What do they reveal about the Duke?

•Which phrase shows the Duke had the Duchess killed?

Share your discoveries!Share your discoveries!

SITUATIONSITUATION::

An Italian Duke is talking to a messenger An Italian Duke is talking to a messenger from a wealthy Count. The messenger has from a wealthy Count. The messenger has come to bring an offer of marriage between come to bring an offer of marriage between the Count’s daughter and the Duke. The the Count’s daughter and the Duke. The Duke spends most of the Dramatic Duke spends most of the Dramatic Monologue bragging about his wealth and Monologue bragging about his wealth and aristocratic lineage. aristocratic lineage.

More disturbingly, he calmly relates how his More disturbingly, he calmly relates how his previous wife (“my last Duchess”) was previous wife (“my last Duchess”) was disposed ofdisposed of because, basically, she had because, basically, she had offended his vanity.offended his vanity.

LANGUAGE/POETIC LANGUAGE/POETIC TECHNIQUESTECHNIQUES

The poem is a fine example of how a Dramatic The poem is a fine example of how a Dramatic Monologue can reveal attitude and character Monologue can reveal attitude and character – not only through – not only through whatwhat is said but through is said but through the waythe way it has been spoken because it it has been spoken because it allows us to focus solely on the speaker.allows us to focus solely on the speaker.

His last Duchess is never referred to by name, His last Duchess is never referred to by name, signifying the way she was a mere signifying the way she was a mere possession for him. Also, the word “last” possession for him. Also, the word “last” could just mean “previous” but it could imply could just mean “previous” but it could imply “last” in a “last” in a long linelong line of previous wives! This of previous wives! This is ironic given that the conversation is about is ironic given that the conversation is about arranging for a new wife!arranging for a new wife!

He is clearly materialistic as he is more attached He is clearly materialistic as he is more attached to his painting of his wife than to her memory to his painting of his wife than to her memory and he uses the painting as an excuse to brag and he uses the painting as an excuse to brag about his power, “since none puts by/The about his power, “since none puts by/The curtain I have drawn for you, but I” – with the curtain I have drawn for you, but I” – with the emphasis on his favourite word – “I”. He also emphasis on his favourite word – “I”. He also brags about the name of a famous painter who brags about the name of a famous painter who was employed by him. He does the same later was employed by him. He does the same later in the poem, bragging about hisin the poem, bragging about his

rare bronze statue cast by “Claus of Innsbruck”. rare bronze statue cast by “Claus of Innsbruck”. His name-dropping is a feature of his His name-dropping is a feature of his aristocratic snobbery.aristocratic snobbery.

He refers to his wife as the painting with the words, He refers to his wife as the painting with the words, “That’s…” and “There she stands…” (repeated twice in “That’s…” and “There she stands…” (repeated twice in the poem) – both signifying his emotional coldness and the poem) – both signifying his emotional coldness and distance from her.distance from her.

It is quite clear that the Duke is about to re-marry for It is quite clear that the Duke is about to re-marry for money – the dowry paid by the father of the bride. The money – the dowry paid by the father of the bride. The duke vows that he is primarily interested in the Count’s duke vows that he is primarily interested in the Count’s “fair daughter” – but this is only “fair daughter” – but this is only afterafter mentioning the mentioning the need to receive a generous dowry from the Count! He need to receive a generous dowry from the Count! He asserts that it is the daughter who is his “object” – a asserts that it is the daughter who is his “object” – a revealing word because he collects objects and he revealing word because he collects objects and he treated his previous wife as a material possession – in treated his previous wife as a material possession – in fact he has turned her into a possession hung on the wall fact he has turned her into a possession hung on the wall which only he can view! His desire to control people is which only he can view! His desire to control people is perhaps symbolised by his choice of bronze: “Neptune, perhaps symbolised by his choice of bronze: “Neptune, though,/Taming a sea-horse”.though,/Taming a sea-horse”.

He is callous and we know his wife has died (“As He is callous and we know his wife has died (“As if alive”) and we suspect that he has had her if alive”) and we suspect that he has had her killed. He reveals his cold and calculating killed. He reveals his cold and calculating nature in the almost monosyllabic utterance: nature in the almost monosyllabic utterance: “This grew; I gave commands;/Then all smiles “This grew; I gave commands;/Then all smiles stopped together”. The stopped together”. The simplicitysimplicity and lack of and lack of emotion in these words is what is frightening emotion in these words is what is frightening because he is (most probably) describing because he is (most probably) describing murdering his wife.murdering his wife.

His motive for murder is also quite disturbing. His motive for murder is also quite disturbing. There is a There is a hinthint of sexual jealousy – but no more of sexual jealousy – but no more than that: “She thanked men, - good!” The than that: “She thanked men, - good!” The exclamation mark signifies his sarcasm and his exclamation mark signifies his sarcasm and his bitterness – a rare sign of emotion from bitterness – a rare sign of emotion from beneath his beneath his maskmask. .

However, his main reason for killing his wife stems However, his main reason for killing his wife stems from his own arrogance that anything else in the from his own arrogance that anything else in the world should give her pleasure apart from him.world should give her pleasure apart from him.

His extreme egotism pervades the poem. He is angry His extreme egotism pervades the poem. He is angry that she speaks to ordinary people in a civilised way that she speaks to ordinary people in a civilised way and does not treat them as inferior beings to him! He and does not treat them as inferior beings to him! He comments that “she let/Herself be comments that “she let/Herself be lessonedlessoned so”, so”, referring to her ability to take criticism and referring to her ability to take criticism and learnlearn from it. But he is punning on the word “lessfrom it. But he is punning on the word “lessononed” ed” (“less(“lessenened”), here, because he believes that ed”), here, because he believes that accepting criticism accepting criticism belittlesbelittles (lessens) a person. (lessens) a person.

Similarly, the assonance in, “I chSimilarly, the assonance in, “I choooose/Never tse/Never too st stoooop” p” emphasises the Duke’s sense of superiority over the emphasises the Duke’s sense of superiority over the rest of the world. So, her common politeness – rest of the world. So, her common politeness – “stooping” to curtsey – was her real crime, in his “stooping” to curtsey – was her real crime, in his eyes.eyes.

He arrogantly describes his previous He arrogantly describes his previous marriage as “my gift (to his wife) of marriage as “my gift (to his wife) of a nine hundred-years-old name” a nine hundred-years-old name” emphasising that his aristocratic emphasising that his aristocratic title and heritage makes him title and heritage makes him superior.superior.

The constant repetition of “I”, “me”, The constant repetition of “I”, “me”, “my”, “mine” throughout the poem “my”, “mine” throughout the poem emphasises his egocentric nature.emphasises his egocentric nature.

STRUCTURESTRUCTURE::

Ostensibly, the Duke is polite, Ostensibly, the Duke is polite, sophisticated and controlled in his sophisticated and controlled in his speech and this makes it even more speech and this makes it even more chilling when we discover the chilling when we discover the darkness below the surface.darkness below the surface.

Both the language and the structure Both the language and the structure work together to help us gain an work together to help us gain an insight into his persona.insight into his persona.

The elevated language is the Duke showing The elevated language is the Duke showing off his educated side: “that pictured off his educated side: “that pictured countenancecountenance” (face) and, “your master’s ” (face) and, “your master’s known known munificencemunificence” (generosity). These ” (generosity). These are two examples of his over-wordy speech. are two examples of his over-wordy speech.

Structurally, the fact that there are no stanza Structurally, the fact that there are no stanza breaks and that the Count speaks breaks and that the Count speaks uninterrupted for 56 lines points to a man uninterrupted for 56 lines points to a man who likes the sound of his own voice and is who likes the sound of his own voice and is full of his own importance.full of his own importance.

The use of heroic (rhyming) couplets gives the The use of heroic (rhyming) couplets gives the poem a poem a controlledcontrolled structure which suits the structure which suits the dominating personality of the Duke. There is dominating personality of the Duke. There is plenty of enjambement to allow the speech plenty of enjambement to allow the speech some fluency to mimic natural speech.some fluency to mimic natural speech.

The poem is full of controlled asides and The poem is full of controlled asides and deliberated digressions in mid-sentence which deliberated digressions in mid-sentence which effectively captures the pattern of natural effectively captures the pattern of natural speech but which also gives us a picture of the speech but which also gives us a picture of the Duke as a calm and reasoning person. This Duke as a calm and reasoning person. This logical reasoning does not include any positive logical reasoning does not include any positive emotions – like, love for another.emotions – like, love for another.

The repeated use of pauses created by The repeated use of pauses created by the dashes, the use of brackets the dashes, the use of brackets (parenthesis), the rhetorical questions (parenthesis), the rhetorical questions and the Duke’s quoting and imagining and the Duke’s quoting and imagining of others’ words gives us a picture of a of others’ words gives us a picture of a highly logical and calculating mind e.g. highly logical and calculating mind e.g. “A heart – how shall I say – too soon “A heart – how shall I say – too soon made glad” and “but thanked - made glad” and “but thanked - /Somehow – I know not how – as if she /Somehow – I know not how – as if she ranked”.ranked”.

Similarly very long and multi-clausal sentences Similarly very long and multi-clausal sentences and deliberately unusual word order (e.g.“I and deliberately unusual word order (e.g.“I know not how”) show off the Duke’s know not how”) show off the Duke’s education and his arrogance. So, lines 5-13, education and his arrogance. So, lines 5-13, 13-21 and 48-53 are each single sentences. 13-21 and 48-53 are each single sentences. Unusual word order, “So, not the first/Are Unusual word order, “So, not the first/Are you to turn and ask thus”. This all makes the you to turn and ask thus”. This all makes the Duke sound like a pompous and conceited Duke sound like a pompous and conceited snob – which he is! His comment that he has snob – which he is! His comment that he has no skill in speaking is clearly no skill in speaking is clearly falsefalse modesty modesty on his part: “Even had you skill/In speech – on his part: “Even had you skill/In speech – ( which I have not) – ”. This controlled section ( which I have not) – ”. This controlled section of his speech itself, ironically, demonstrates of his speech itself, ironically, demonstrates clearly that he clearly that he does does have such skill!have such skill!

The sophistication of the Duke’s syntax and the elevated The sophistication of the Duke’s syntax and the elevated diction (vocabulary) reflect the Duke’s feelings of diction (vocabulary) reflect the Duke’s feelings of superiority. This calm and reasoned style contrasts superiority. This calm and reasoned style contrasts with the psychopathic tendencies lurking beneath the with the psychopathic tendencies lurking beneath the surface and the irrationality of killing his wife on the surface and the irrationality of killing his wife on the basis of her having “a heart too soon made glad” by basis of her having “a heart too soon made glad” by anything (e.g. the white mule) – rather than anything (e.g. the white mule) – rather than solelysolely by by himself.himself.

The use of cheerful rhyming couplets contrasts The use of cheerful rhyming couplets contrasts ironically with the subject matter of murder and the ironically with the subject matter of murder and the politeness and politeness and gentilitygentility of the Duke’s language is of the Duke’s language is very ironic, given his dark actions: “sir” (repeated very ironic, given his dark actions: “sir” (repeated four times in the poem), “Will’t please you sit…” and four times in the poem), “Will’t please you sit…” and “Will’t please you rise?” add to the ironically polite “Will’t please you rise?” add to the ironically polite tone.tone.