Analysis Of The Poem The Duchess - 2263 Words

Chaucer’s Book of the Duchess has been widely debated as to when it was written as this influences the interpretation of which historical figures were fashioned after characters in the poem. The poem was written as a memorial for the death of Duchess Blanche of Lancaster, whose husband John of Gaunt was a patron of Chaucer’s. Knowing the date that Chaucer wrote this poem affects the way in which readers and audience at the time interpreted the poem. The initial response is to read the Black Knight figure as John of Gaunt, because the character is lamenting the loss of his love that is named Lady White in the poem. The French translation of White is Blanche, which makes it evident that the poem is a type of tribute for her death. Therefore the poem can be interpreted as the love between John of Gaunt and Duchess Blanche, as well as his grief for her now that she has passed. The narrator is interpreted to be Chaucer, as his status in the poem appears to be lower than the Black Knight, and the narrator himself is dealing with a grief of his own though it does not explicitly say whom he mourns. Chaucer has carefully woven historical context through The Book of the Duchess by subtly inferring real medieval figures with characters in the poem, as well as the many classical and medieval figures from prominent Greek and Roman Myths, as well as Greek philosophers and academics. Chaucer uses the death of Duchess Blanche as a reason to write The Book of the Duchess as a means to appealShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem My Last Duchess 1837 Words   |  8 PagesBrowning was one of the greatest poets of Victorian England. He wrote many poems and plays before discovering his well-known style, the dramatic monolog. In his monologs, Browning wrote in the voice of a fictional or historical character. The collection Men And Woman (1855) includes many of his best monologs. One of his monologs includes the famous poem â€Å"My Last Duchess† which was firs t recognized in 1842. The pace of the poem builds towards the revelation that the Duke had his wife murdered, thenRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem My Last Duchess By Robert Browning1370 Words   |  6 Pagesthat woman faced throughout time in history. Emily Dickenson wrote the poem 303 which talked about a woman who chose to empower herself; Robert Browning wrote the poem My Last Duchess about a woman who was ruled over by the same man who killed her; and Jamaica Kincaid wrote the poem Girl which elaborated on the ways a woman should behave and conduct herself accordingly in almost any situation that is heaved in her path. 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Robert Browning and Matthew Arnold use the setting to expose their character traits. My Last Duchess and Dover Beach, respectively, portray the weaknesses of the characters using elements from the setting. The text, page 629 and 630, tells us thatRead More Comparing the Male Characters of Porphyria’s Lover and My Last Duchess1720 Words   |  7 PagesComparing the Male Characters of Porphyria’s Lover and My Last Duchess The creation of a plausible character within literature is one of the most difficult challenges to a writer, and development to a level at which the reader identifies with them can take a long time. However, through the masterful use of poetic devices and language Browning is able to create two living and breathing characters in sixty or less lines. When one examines these works one has to that they are quite the achievementsRead More Analysis of My Last Duchess by Robert Browning Essay examples1222 Words   |  5 Pages Analysis of My Last Duchess by Robert Browning Murder mystery intrigue. All describe Robert Brownings poem, My Last Duchess. From the speakers indirect allusions to the death of his wife the reader might easily think that the speaker committed a vengeful crime out of jealousy. His flowery speech confuses and disguises any possible motives, however, and the mystery is left unsolved. The poem is a great example of dramatic dialogue, a poetic form used to narrate and dramatize. It consistsRead MoreSummary Of My Last Duchess By Robert Browning1164 Words   |  5 PagesKendra Collins English 2116 Professor Newberry 13 February 2017 A Reader’s Guide to Robert Browning â€Å"My Last Duchess† Title and Author Robert browning was born on May 7,1817 in Camberwell, England. To and accomplished pianist and a bank clerk. It is said by the age of five he was already proficient of writing and reading. At the age of twelve he wrote a volume of Byronic verse entitled Incondita, which his parents attempted to have published. By thirteen birthday Browning had received the rest of