Dramatic Monologue. A dramatic monologue is a poem that presents the speech of a single character in a dramatic situation. The speech is one side of an imagined conversation. Robert Browning’s reputation rests primarily on his dramatic monologues. As you read, identify the speaker in “My Last Duchess.”
Diction. Diction, when applied to writing, refers to word choice. Much of a writer’s style is determined by his or her diction, the types of words that he or she chooses.
Paradox. A paradox is a seemingly contradictory statement, idea, or event. As you read “Andrea del Sarto,” try to figure out what is meant by the paradox, “Less is more.”
Theme. A theme is a central idea in a literary work. As you read, try to identify one theme of “Andrea del Sarto.”
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Browning had a lifelong obsession with Italy and with the Italian Renaissance. In “My Last Duchess,” the speaker prattles on, seemingly unaware that he is revealing something horrible about himself. The poem shows Browning’s gift for allowing characters to speak in their own voices, inadvertently exposing their innermost conflicts and desires.
The speaker in “Andrea del Sarto” is Andrea d’Angelo di Francesca, an Italian Renaissance painter who was called “del Sarto” because his father was a sarto, or tailor. Del Sarto gained a reputation for painting flawless works. In the poem, del Sarto addresses his wife, Lucrezia del Fede, whose influence was disastrous for his art.
Browning was known for writing poetry that sounded just like ordinary speech. He avoided lofty, sentimental, flowery, “poetic” diction in favor of words and phrases that might be spoken. Chart the examples you can find in the poem of the following elements from ordinary speech:
What would you do if you suspected someone of having committed a horrible crime?
Which do you prefer in art: technical perfection or inspired passion? Explain.
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