Robert Browning’s Poetry : Last Duchess

"Last Duchess"

    That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall,
    Looking as if she were alive. I call
    That piece a wonder, now: Fra Pandolf’s hands
    Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
    Will’t please you sit and look at her? I said
    “Fra Pandolf” by design, for never read
    Strangers like you that pictured countenance,
    The depth and passion of its earnest glance,
    But to myself they turned (since none puts by
    The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)
    And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,
    How such a glance came there; so, not the first
    Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, ’twas not
    Her husband’s presence only, called that spot
    Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek: perhaps
    Fra Pandolf chanced to say “Her mantle laps
    Over my lady’s wrist too much,” or “Paint
    Must never hope to reproduce the faint
    Half-flush that dies along her throat”: such stuff
    Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough
    For calling up that spot of joy. She had
    A heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad,
    Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er
    She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.
    Sir, ’twas all one! My favour at her breast,
    The dropping of the daylight in the West,
    The bough of cherries some officious fool
    Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule
    She rode with round the terrace—all and each
    Would draw from her alike the approving speech,
    Or blush, at least. She thanked men,—good! but thanked
    Somehow—I know not how—as if she ranked
    My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name
    With anybody’s gift. Who’d stoop to blame
    This sort of trifling? Even had you skill
    In speech—(which I have not)—to make your will
    Quite clear to such an one, and say, “Just this
    Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss,
    Or there exceed the mark”—and if she let
    Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set
    Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse,
    —E’en then would be some stooping; and I choose
    Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt,
    Whene’er I passed her; but who passed without
    Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands;
    Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands
    As if alive. Will’t please you rise? We’ll meet
    The company below, then. I repeat,
    The Count your master’s known munificence
    Is ample warrant that no just pretence
    Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;
    Though his fair daughter’s self, as I avowed
    At starting, is my object. Nay, we’ll go
    Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,
    Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,
    Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!

Christopher Marlowe | The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus | Important Questions With Answers

 
Q.2. Discuss Doctor Faustus as a Morality play.

Or

Elaborate the view that Doctor Faustus is athoroughly "Christian" Document.

Q.3. Discuss Doctor Faustus as an allegory.

Or

Bring out the symbolic meanings of Doctor Faustus.

4) Do you agree with the view that Doctor Faustus has a beginning and an end but no "middle”? 

Or 

Discuss the structure or construction or design of the play, Doctor Faustus.

 Q5. Write a note on the Renaissaance chracter of the play, Doctor Faustus. or Discuss Faustus as a man of Renaissance.

  Q6. write a note on Faustus's charater as revealed in Marlowe's play. or Shows that Marlowe in this play is connected with recording the mental history of Faustus.

Q7. Trace the various stages of Faustus's damnation. or "This play presents the fall and slow moral disintegration of an ardent, but erring, spirit". Discuss.

Q8. Discuss the appropriateness of otherwise of the comic and farcical scene in Doctor Faustus. or Write a note on the comic and farcical scene in Doctor Faustus. Do you think the introduction of these scene in the play to be justified? Give reasons for your answer.


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