My Last Duchess Class 11 Long Questions | WBCHSE Semester 2
WBCHSE Class 11 Semester 2 Poem ‘My Last Duchess’ Long Questions Answers is available as per West Bengal new exam pattern. We have given here total 5 descriptive type questions. Each question carries 6 marks.
Board |
WBCHSE |
Class |
11 |
Semester |
2 |
Subject |
English |
Chapter |
My Last Duchess |
Topic |
Long Questions / Descriptive Type Questions |
1.) Contrast the characters of the Duke and Duchess in ‘My Last Duchess’?
Answer. The Duke was quite arrogant, proud and self-centred person as we can see in ‘My Last Duchess’. He had not apparent regard for genuine human life and individuality of a person. Rather he gave importance only to power, special recognition, reverence and attention. He used to stay separate from normal people and see lower class people with unkind vision. It was important to him to keep distance and state of his higher class among the people around him. Besides that he wanted extra reverence from the duchess than any other man as her husband. But she was completely opposite in her characteristics and used to enjoy the company of people around him. She used to find pleasure and happiness in simple things of life. So, she could not accept the controlling attitude of the duke and she lived her life the way she wanted. She did not believe in discrimination of people based on classes. She treated all people equally and was happy to be around with lovable people. This major difference of the characteristics between the Duke and the duchess created the main reason of conflict.
2.) How is the fate of the duchess explained in ‘My Last Duchess’?
Answer. In ‘My Last Duchess’ we can see that the duchess has failed to please her husband with all his demands. The duke was used to command her and she had to abide by it. She lost the interest in living life with free will by listening his illogical commands. She lost her smile almost and became a lifeless character like dead. In this case, we can find the duke compelled her to die so that he can remarry and bring another lady of his choice. He was almost fed up with the duchess’ characteristics who was not ready to give him more reverence than others. He found her over friendliness with evil eye and wanted to bind her in his objections. But the duchess did not listen to him and wanted to live freely. He explained her as too soon made glad and too easily impressed. She seemed to appreciate all gifts equally which she got rather she was expected to consider the Duke’s gifts more valuable. She did not appreciate his gift of a nine hundred years old name but give importance to other gifts like a white mule, a bough of cherries, a beautiful sunset etc. which upset the duke. He wanted her to value him and give importance above all where she failed. So, he expected to be with some who would listen to him and flatter his male ego.
3.) Where is the conflict hidden in ‘My Last Duchess’?
Answer. The main conflict lies in ‘My Last Duchess’ was between the Duke’s constant demand for controlling the duchess and getting her full attention and the duchess’s nature of living by free will. She wanted to live by her own conditions where she can appreciate people and things around her. The duke was always faced issues and in trouble to compromise with his expectations and reality. He could not accept his wife’s natural behaviour towards people of different class and appreciating them equally. The duchess was kind, open minded, simple and love to be around people. She did not prefer to hold high standard and reputation rather she enjoyed her time being with them. The Duke grew rage in his heart for lack of attention and to see her discrimination among people. He was unable to tell or explain to the duchess about what was wrong. The Duke failed to live with the duchess for his tendency to control. Due to that he focused on dismissed his marriage and finding his next partner who would please him and his needs.
4.) What is the message that Browning wanted to convey through ‘My Last Duchess’?
Answer. Browning wanted to convey the message about the behaviour of the contemporary patriarchal society towards females. They had the natural tendency to control over female and they had to abide by all his dictations. The Duke explained the same about his character in ‘my last duchess’ and felt proud of it. He had much acquisition and complaints against his duchess. In fact, he wanted to justify his decision about calling off the marriage and look for his next duchess. He tried to explain why she was not happy with his duchess for her over friendliness, easily impressed and lack of discrimination power. All of her characteristic traits used to disturb her and he could not adjust with it. So, we found him criticising the duchess for her simplicity and natural behaviour towards people around her. He wanted to control the duchess and expected all his love and attention for him. When he did not get what he expected, he did not think twice for remarriage.
5.) How does the duke describe his memory and his last duchess in ‘My Last Duchess’?
Answer. The Duke described his last duchess as lady of quite friendly, affectionate, responsive towards others emotions and easily impressed. He had complaints that she does not treat him with extra attention despite seeing his noble gestures. She is such a kind of lady who enjoy life by living with others irrespective of their classes. The Duke considered her friendliness as lack of awareness about class and people. He even criticises her character for not seeing and correcting her faults. She does not possess any special place or attention for the duke which arises problem in his mind. He does not admire his wife at all for her over friendliness and lack of care attitude. He described about her what he observed with his perspective and from others’ views. When the duke shows the portrait of the duchess to a visitor he admires the lifelike painting but he remembers her with complaints and bitterness. We can know about the duchess from the Duke’s explanation only. He does not give any evidence or instances to prove his point.