Literature Lesson Plans - Sykalo Eugen 2024
My Last Duchess by Robert Browning
Grade Level: This lesson plan is intended for High School English, ideally 10th or 11th grade.
Subject: Literature
Time Allotment: One class period (approximately 50 minutes)
Learning Objectives:
- Students will be able to analyze the poem's dramatic monologue structure and identify the speaker's motivations.
- Students will be able to interpret the speaker's character traits and his controlling personality.
- Students will be able to discuss the poem's themes of power, jealousy, and the objectification of women.
- Students will be able to consider the poem's historical context and the role of social status.
Materials:
- Copies of "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning
- Whiteboard or projector
- Markers or pens
- Character analysis worksheet focusing on the Duke (optional)
Lesson Procedure:
- Introduction (10 minutes):
- Briefly introduce Robert Browning and his use of dramatic monologues.
- Explain that a dramatic monologue is a poem spoken by a single character, revealing their thoughts and feelings.
- Mention the historical context of the poem (Renaissance Italy) and the importance of social status and family alliances.
- Active Reading and Close Reading (20 minutes):
- Distribute copies of "My Last Duchess."
- Have students read the poem silently, paying close attention to the speaker's words and actions.
- Encourage them to underline or annotate lines that reveal the speaker's character and motivations.
- Character Analysis (20 minutes):
- Distribute a character analysis worksheet focusing on the Duke (optional).
- Individually or in small groups, students analyze the Duke's character:
✵ What are his personality traits? Consider pride, possessiveness, and a sense of entitlement.
✵ How does he speak about his late wife? What evidence suggests jealousy or resentment?
✵ What are his motivations for sharing this story with the envoy? Is he trying to boast or intimidate?
- Theme Discussion (10 minutes):
- Lead a class discussion based on the character analysis:
✵ What are the central themes of the poem? Consider power dynamics, the objectification of women, and the potential for violence.
✵ How does the Duke's treatment of his late wife reflect the social norms of his time?
✵ How does the poem explore the dark side of human nature?
Differentiation:
- Provide scaffolding for reading comprehension by offering a vocabulary list of unfamiliar words or paraphrasing complex lines.
- Offer different options for the character analysis worksheet (e.g., creating a character map detailing the Duke's traits, motivations, and actions).
- Allow students to choose a specific aspect of the Duke's character to focus on for a deeper analysis (e.g., his pride, his possessiveness, his hidden threats).
Extension Activities:
- Students can research the role of women in Renaissance Italy, particularly within the nobility.
- Have students write a monologue from the perspective of the Duchess, expressing her feelings and experiences.
- Compare and contrast "My Last Duchess" with another dramatic monologue that explores the inner world of a complex character.
Assessment:
- Participation in class discussions and group activities.
- Completed character analysis worksheet (if used).
- Short essay analyzing the speaker's character, motivations, and the poem's exploration of themes like power, jealousy, and the objectification of women.