My Last Duchess by Robert Browning

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:

  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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?

  1. 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.