My Last Duchess by Robert Browning is (). A. an elegy B. a lyric C. a dramatic monologue D. an eulog

My Last Duchess by Robert Browning is (). A. an elegy B. a lyric C. a dramatic monologue D. an eulogy

The correct answer is C. a dramatic monologue.

My Last Duchess by Robert Browning is a classic example of a dramatic monologue. This poetic form has specific characteristics that the poem perfectly demonstrates:

A single speaker: The entire poem is spoken by the Duke of Ferrara.

An audience: The Duke is speaking to the silent emissary of a Count, who is there to arrange the Duke's next marriage.

Revelation of character: Through his speech about his late wife, the Duke unknowingly reveals his own possessive, jealous, arrogant, and potentially murderous nature.

A dramatic situation: The conversation is set at a specific moment (during the marriage negotiations) in a specific place (his art gallery).

Let's review why the other options are not as accurate:

A. an elegy: An elegy is a formal poem of mourning or lament, typically for a specific person. While the Duke is speaking about his deceased wife, his tone is not one of grief or sorrow; it is one of cold control and pride. The poem's purpose is not to mourn the Duchess.

B. a lyric: A lyric poem expresses personal emotions or thoughts in a song-like style. "My Last Duchess" is not an expression of the poet's (Browning's) own feelings, but a crafted portrayal of a fictional character's psychology.

D. an eulogy: A eulogy is a speech of praise, typically for someone who has just died. The Duke's speech is far from praiseworthy; it is a critique of his wife's behavior and a boast about his own power. It functions as an anti-eulogy.

Therefore, C. a dramatic monologue is the precise and defining genre of the poem.