'My Last Duchess' by Robert Browning: Mr Bruff Analysis

[@elfmas]

Shoutout to all my mad lads learning this shit the night before

[@桃さん-x6f]

yung sam oh my god how did you know 👀

[@bubukakashi6082]

Me im learning it in the morning 😭

[@willmclaughlan4186]

Yung sam im here for this mornings exam

[@ezhacks5135]

I’m here the night before lol

[@LoafOfSardines]

Lol

[@duncanmcdonald1045]

when your English teacher just says "go watch Mr Bruff" 😂😂

[@joelbates8243]

Duncan McDonald i can relate

[@lewissmith7377]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 my guy

[@yuyucha_4]

Exactly hahaha

[@ahussain4901]

My teacher too 😂😂😂

[@tashaputt5671]

Me too lmao

[@betrinab8992]

how on earth are we supposed to remember 15 poems, Macbeth , Jekyll and hyde and inspector calls plus 10 other subjects!!!!!! #stressedout

[@jenm3246]

@FAT cat lmao fun? not when u have the shittiest teachers on earth

[@SeddonEJ]

Be thankful you had Jekyll and Hyde, at least that’s short. My class has Jane eyre! We all hate it

[@Maxiboy0101]

you don't

[@Subzi_]

Not only that, u have other subjects toooo....

[@Redfruitella]

I have to remember Jekyll and Hyde, Animal Farm and Romeo and Juliet

[@jasir4785]

Also the fact that the poem starts with my and ends with me could also show how he is controlling and everything is about him.

[@Lindaaaaaaa2]

I like tht

[@gabyward5855]

thanks g

[@toby38572]

So a bit like how the cyclical structure reflects how his perspective of roles towards women will never change

[@alexanderbanks390]

it starts with thats

[@akeemh8240]

The title also contains My

[@zarashazad3516]

So basically the duke killed his wife because she was happy and he was in a state of paranoia

[@mrbruff]

+Zara Shazad it is one interpretation

[@asnekboi7232]

Basically

[@player-ic9yj]

homeboy killed a 13 year old cos she smiled when someone gave her cherries

[@tamaraleslie8422]

😂😂😂😂tf

[@player-ic9yj]

Tamara Leslie facts tho

[@goobles64]

lmfao

[@oliviarungay2318]

something else i noticed in my analysis was during line 30, the iambic pentameter breaks almost reflected the Dukes break in composure when talking about his wife

[@mrbruff]

+Olivia Rungay I didn't spot that!

[@feifizheng9986]

I think you could read it as "th'approving speech", but I'm going to ignore that because your point is good for analysis ; )

[@alejandrosantin329]

STFU NERD

[@AlexandraMilitaru006]

olivia you're a genius

[@v0idz36]

Please explain how does it break? I dont understand

[@runningscorpion3990]

Mr Bruff My hats off to you Genius I have neverstood the poem in such a way that shifted my perspective completely Thank you and May God Bless You Hope you keep making such quality videos Srinivas

[@mrbruff]

+Srinivas Euclid thanks!

[@runningscorpion3990]

U are most welcome!!!!

[@samw5924]

Ironic, he could control others but not himself

[@mrbruff]

+Sam W good point!

[@athanassiospagalis913]

NOT FROM A JEDI ;)

[@athanassiospagalis913]

@IH Gaming *Clears throat* WoooooOooOOoOOoshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[@isaacmiller8579]

@IH Gaming r/woosh

[@CHANELLEPLAYS]

Ill be nicking this idea ;))

[@courtneywatts3185]

Anyone else watching all these the night before? 😁😬

[@benkeeping5869]

Did u do well

[@stoicmarxist122]

@@benkeeping5869 She failed and now works at KFC

[@ReblazeGaming]

@@stoicmarxist122 lmaoooo

[@kymanibrown8801]

@@stoicmarxist122 wtf 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@lhickey2930]

Courtney Watts yep

[@orlaghmcdonald9822]

Final Cramming before tomorrow's exam... you're videos are insane, thank you so much they genuinely help me so much

[@mrbruff]

Orlagh McDonald it was worth it hey? This was the poem!

[@orlaghmcdonald9822]

Definitely worth it... I got Song To Last Years Wife... Great one for the comparison!

[@T.Hxrris]

Orlagh McDonald what did you get in your GCSE?

[@456-s9j]

what did u get for gcse

[@joeb7412]

What grade did u get?

[@amberbadman5134]

guys if your doing GCSEs this year or next year the biggest advice I can give you is to focus on core subjects more then options unless you need one of your options to get into college, also GCSEs don't matter as much as schools make them out to be I know people that have failed the majority of GCSEs that have degrees and work in great jobs, you can do this!

[@lillylucie6066]

literally the only English work I'm being set during corona lockdown is 'watch mr bruff'

[@jackisnotbad9688]

Lol same

[@diamondstonecat6446]

Same

[@jacker9358]

Tru tru anyone got PS4 add me Renz1974

[@tobydrew7270]

same but lockdown 3

[@xcutiepie10x]

Perhaps the “even had you skill in speech (which I have not)” line is the Duke actually admitting to a fault, despite being able to represent himself well he finds when it comes to human contact he is not good at speaking to people hence why he’s overcome by jealousy that these men can speak to her well. The brackets could represent his inner consciousness which he’s tried to keep hidden yet his lack of control of himself means it spills out.

[@qanzii5949]

Good point- I'm stealing that for my exam

[@leahj1613]

Thanks will be using that for my mock tomorrow 👍🏻😊

[@asnekboi7232]

Stolen

[@Lindaaaaaaa2]

Stealing for my exams too

[@sallyj577]

Am I seeing right!?!! 42 minutes long video on one poem???

[@sirhenners204]

it is an unusually long poem

[@benwyatt7619]

Jesus

[@simmyqadri]

late reply but I just watched the whole thing and it was worth it!

[@eman3985]

nope

[@aaronkellyuk]

S J You do realise that the full ‘Prelude’ poem by William Wordsworth had about 640 lines right?

[@joolsallyboo]

As a parent who is learning this to support her son through his GCSE's I wanted to say a big thank you! You've really ignited my interest in poetry and enabled me to actually help him in a constructive way.

[@mrbruff]

Thank you for your message!

[@hamzasherasmat6593]

WoW

[@olivermorgado4671]

Trying to get through all the poems the night before... 1.5 speed while making notes, good luck me

[@benlewis-jones6719]

why r u writing this then

[@mahinrahman5756]

I watch in *2 speed

[@Scarlet_Hex]

Same but without the notes

[@rotor7726]

18:00 - Oh! She's beautiful!

[@dofflelover221b6]

loooooooooooooooooool how old r u

[@madwildocean03]

clearlyy old if he/she's watching a GCSE analysis

[@SanaKhan-ks9wd]

Loooollll 😂😂, but that's the last thing you want to notice if you have an exam the next day 😎😎

[@anaveragechildontheinterne9765]

A true figure of beuty

[@mirabelwindsor9424]

This is either unironic and cringy or a masterfully disguised and executed John Mulaney reference.

[@abdulkhaled1745]

thank you sir! i have been getting 16 marks in poetry after watching your videos and making notes i got 24 marks. i was not even ready yet i got that. thank you soo much!

[@pcphotography6587]

Doing school work at home right now. This is more of a history lesson so far 😂

[@ameema629]

i want to give this a dislike BC ITS SO LONG compared to the other poems but i cant bc the actual content of the video literally saved my life oof

[@mrbruff]

Haha I know: I didn’t make it a super detailed video just for fun

[@ameema629]

mrbruff im super grateful though, you spot out the best points and it's amazingly helpful (also im 32 mins through and it's not as bad as i thought aha)

[@davidconn2199]

Thankyou so much for this video! Could you argue that "even had you skill in speech (which i have not)" is the Duke's first time admitting to a weakness. He clearly is well practised in presenting himself well but when it comes to real people he lacks all skill. The use of brackets could represent his inner consciousness which he tries to keep closed off from the world however due to hid lack of control of himself it spills out?

[@matildastarck605]

Thank you Mr Bruff! I just finished the whole playlist on the Power + Conflict poems, and I can't tell you how helpful they've been. Many thanks.

[@mrbruff]

Fantastic!

[@xcutiepie10x]

is it possible to read this poem as an attack on the patriarchal society of the time? for example, the fact that the tight rhyming couplets cannot actually be noticed when read allowed due to the enjambment could mirror women being kept down by men in society. Despite their best efforts women cannot simply be controlled and denied any power by men? idk if that makes any sense haha

[@abbaslegend9214]

thats insightful

[@xcutiepie10x]

Harry Johnston glad it came in useful lol my year 11 self on a mad one

[@ev3229]

@@xcutiepie10x i love ur year 11 self it is helping me sm

[@jmb2673]

I wondered if the duchess has some power over the duke in that he insists on her portrait being covered. Could it be that it is one of those portraits where you feel like the eyes of the paint d figure are following you, and this reminds the duke of his guilt in having had his duchess killed? I'd be interested to know what others think?

[@kurtcobainwho2030]

The guilt of his potentially murdered wife

[@zahracamal6627]

Also having the paranoia because she looks so life-like which causes him to cover up the painting to stop having that feeling that you mentioned

[@Jaydee-wd7wr]

Zahra Camal, it’s a while old but I assumed it was his last effort to control who she smiled at.

[@dimsumdini]

I also just think it's another way for him to control his ex-wife, which is quite morbid. Even after her death he's still controlling who can see her.

[@rlallie007]

I am a year 11 student doing my English Literature Exam in a few months, and I was wondering if you thought this point was valid: The last line ends in "cast in bronze for me!". The use of the exclamation mark could emphasise on the Duke's anger because it evokes the idea that he is desperate for a wife, because​ he is desperate to control someone, as he cannot stand the sight of women having voices of their own.

[@invadergryder]

V good

[@rawcopper604]

how did it go?

[@CookiieMonsterXxX]

Its a shame theres only one poem on character and voice, I have my exam on friday and I know I can benefit from them a lot

[@bjblazkowicz2612]

Currently in Sixth Form, doing a My Last Duchess essay with minimum of 750 words. Im listening to it while writing, Thank God for Mr Bruff

[@ayesha4155]

When the exam is tomorrow so I start going through this entire playlist

[@mcrfangirl0175]

Using these to revise for my GCSE's next year, your video's are amazing!!

[@zactaylor7860]

how'd you do mate

[@Hassan123_]

Hello , mr bruff could u please after every anylsis of poem tell us what quotes are best to remember in each of the poems in the power and conflict strucure and which poems should be compared with another. Please much appreciated !!!

[@Lindaaaaaaa2]

Yes

[@Barb-cv6ko]

Thanks Mr Bruff, as a South African student this really helped with my exams!! :)

[@TheDropdeadZed]

Holy crap, these videos are actually so helpful for my mocks coming up (I think this exam is maybe the 25th?) because my teacher is all over the place when talking about the poems and insists we've covered all of them in lesson when we only really covered Ozymandias in huge, multi-lesson detail. Hopefully I can actually hit my predicted grades for the literature exam now!

[@mrbruff]

+TheDropdeadZed :)

[@hepthd5245]

same dude

[@joannemanfredi970]

Just ordered some of your ebooks, so I look forward to using them with my pupils! thank you

[@mahinrahman5756]

Watch in *2 speed and u can get through this in under 20 min if u skip bits

[@tommycunningham5033]

skip to 23:00 mins if you dont want context

[@mediocreproductions4938]

thanks man

[@ari_kuzo]

I was looking for this comment)

[@darotm7628]

last minute revision crew

[@Dearbangtanxoxo]

15 Poems + Macbeth + An Inspector Calls + Christmas Carol, all this just for one subject. Can someone pls explain to me how this will help me in the future in any possible way?

[@Dearbangtanxoxo]

@Matas Sab What's the point of doing it then 😭😭😭🥴

[@izzyb6456]

Bunny Kookie157. They are the books I’m doing!

[@Dearbangtanxoxo]

@@izzyb6456 Not anymore NO MORE GCSEE

[@izzyb6456]

Bunny Kookie157 I’m in year 10

[@msf0832]

I know this was posted a long time ago but i just wanted to say thanks because i was really unsure about MLD and needed some last minute revision thank you very much

[@mrbruff]

Great!

[@GChan-eg2jb]

It's GCSE season again... Anyone revising this rn

[@maddie778g]

Thank you so much!! I've always been scared of this poem but now it makes as much as the others! Thank you so much, these videos are life savers !!!

[@Diogoyork]

You are amazing, I love modern poetry, specially in pop culture, ex (songs from wild beasts) album two dancers etc. I am only preparing myself for a GCSEs equivalence test, but after reading the book, and watching the video, I feel like studying literature and poetry

[@sharonberhane8]

Hey, did you end up studying English Literature?

[@jade728]

Actual legend, I had no idea what this poem was about before but now I hope it comes up in the exam

[@mrbruff]

Thank you

[@ridhiarora4156]

I don't think there can be any outstanding explanation other than this anywhere!!

[@mrbruff]

+Ridhi Arora thank you!

[@lilpinkbeananooshaullah786]

Thank you so much for this video :) it’s so helpful and I’m so glad that you post these because I couldn’t do this without you

[@mrbruff]

Thank you!

[@shonajones9211]

these videos have saved my literature grade thank you

[@emiliadyer7792]

you've helped me so much using this poem in the power and conflict cluster and my teacher has only done 5 poems so far and I'm using your videos to do my own analysis and they're helping so much you make it easy to understand and make it enjoyable instead dreading the exam. I'm actually hoping I get this poem in my exam because you've made it easy to understand.

[@mrbruff]

Thank you!

[@madwildocean03]

Doing last minute revision for after tomorrow, our teacher told us to watch this for homework XD Thank you so much Mr. Bruff, you have saved my literature grade

[@olivian3456]

Thank you. This has helped me so much for my revision.

[@mrbruff]

no problem

[@swu470]

Wonderful breakdown. I loved the many alternative reasonings and possibilities you explored as we deconstructed what the poem could mean and how Browning perhaps intended it to be read.

[@rosiewake6479]

Brilliant channel so glad I've come across it, this is going to work wonders for my exams this academic year! Thankyou so much 📚😊

[@vivekjindal59]

Thank you, sir, for the hard work you did there to make our lives a little easier.

[@mrbruff]

+Vivek Jindal happy to help

[@alicetucker8863]

Thanks you so much I have my exam soon and I'm desperately trying to analyse all my Edexcel relationships poems

[@briankelly5828]

A very helpful and useful analysis; any attentive student would learn a lot from this.

[@mrbruff]

+Brian Kelly thanks!

[@briankelly5828]

+mrbruff - You're welcome! As it happened, I was asked on very short notice to cover a Y10 English class today, so I chose 'My last duchess' from the anthology to teach the class. I think I did a fair job considering I'm not an English teacher, but it was only after I concluded that I found your video on youtube and recommended it to the class. Now that I've listened right through, I will encourage the class to listen for themselves. I think it's great that you provide such excellent material free and I hope you have good sales for your pdf notes.

[@sulemanzubair8274]

bruff, you're a legend

[@mrbruff]

+Suleman Zubair thanks

[@cheeb1468]

Mr bruff, thank you so much for doing this. I really, really appreciate it. I'll do well for you

[@jenniferjose.x]

watching this the day before the exam fml HOW WILL I WATCH EVERY VIDEO IN TIME!??

[@Asintar]

coffee is your saviour, either that or watch it on 1.5 speed

[@jenniferjose.x]

Luke Ebsworth I've had 3 cups already rip

[@Asintar]

i wish you luck m8

[@emilyandbeth0008]

Thank you so much for this video, it’s usually really difficult for me to annotate things by myself, and I’ve had to start annotating my Poetry Anthology. I appreciate the time you’ve taken to make the video :3

[@mrbruff]

You're welcome.

[@marzy999]

After hearing the point about the poem overwhelming the read which reflects how the duke himself is an overwhelming character you deserve a sub it was just that good

[@char_n_charr]

Savior to students fighting against finals. Thanks for this quality video!

[@harrisonswiffin3830]

Very useful wish there was a Mr Bruff for every subject

[@seonacolligan9339]

i appreciate what you're doing insane amounts-you've helped me so much

[@sarahm2295]

English teacher sent me here. Cheers sir x

[@thejamesinator1000]

More of these poetry videos would be great as I have an exam on Friday

[@sebo4554]

Cheers for this video, i have english lit p2 in a week and it is actually helping me have some knowledge on the poem which i really struggled on

[@aliyah508]

i love how he zooms into random stuff and the whole poems there

[@mayawaghorn5681]

Thank you very much Mr Bruff. I found this video very helpful at GCSE, and have come back to it again because we are looking at it in light of crime writing. :)))

[@mayawaghorn5681]

In A Level English Literature*

[@shuchikananji-u4z]

poetry always been hard for me but after watching Mr Bruff's video's I Am feeling confidence

[@amywood970]

Thank you so much ! Your videos are so useful and helpful !

[@Ps-nr4mu]

As you said- your videos are viewed all over the world so I just wanted to say HI FROM SERBIA, Belgade. Thank you for your help in my preparation for my master thesis.

[@mrbruff]

Glad to help!

[@rpenguinboy]

This is such a massive help omg and it's free what a blessing mrbruff is!!

[@mrbruff]

+Raphael Fairer :)

[@hasankaiser4563]

ABSOLUTE legend. Much love

[@katierodway3304]

mrbruff is there anychance you can make more videos on the peoms in the Character and Voice section of the moon on the tides AQA anthlogy? I have my exam on Friday and I know I would benefit alot from them.

[@holyonion2887]

18:02 - if that was my dutchess, I'd ask for her smiles to stop altogether too.

[@scribbledribble4062]

Would it be ok if you can make a quick video on explaining how to tackle and structure your answers, when it comes to analysing UNSEEN POETRY. Spotting language, techniques etc. Thanks in advance!

[@mrbruff]

+scribble dribble there is a 30 minute private video on this which you get when you buy the Lit ebook at mrbruff.com

[@zeyn4792]

Think i could get through this all today? its 17:30 and the exam is tomorrow 8:30. Let us begin.

[@viper4179]

Zeyn same mate can't wait to get this gcse over. TBH as long as I've passed I'll be fine

[@tomwxshere]

Viper good luck you two, even though it isn't luck based, but based on revision, good luck though

[@Flamestrike4]

good luck, I too have my exam tomorrow morning, lets hope I'm awake enough to even understand English at that point.

[@jenniferjose.x]

hahaha how did it go, I'm attempting this rn

[@mrbruff]

@Catherine yes I will do more over the next few weeks :)

[@Hapilan]

mrbruff you didnt...

[@Ghost____Rider]

Hapilan Sukumar he did now :)

[@navkaur4528]

'over the next few weeks'

[@jund66lund25]

Proud Spod I swear your on every comment section of his videos

[@MSC1415]

sorry to be a pain - but can u add subtitles? i have very poor hearing :/

[@sammaddock33]

So my teacher said it was ten minutes long but u know

[@catherineduke9190]

Are you going to more of these videos from the character and voice section? Thanks

[@toby38572]

23:01 truly amazing

[@nathanaelbrown4459]

All your videos have been really helpful, thank you so much!

[@mrbruff]

Brilliant!

[@yasir11109]

no way duke crashed out bc his wife smiled for the painting😭😭😭😭😭😭🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@zahrazakkk]

REALLLLL

[@hpattabhiramasomayaji6014]

it was cathartic listening to that analysis of 'My Last Duchess'.

[@mrbruff]

+H Pattabhirama Somayaji haha good!

[@Maniachook4099]

I was told to make notes for this for homework and I only expected it to be a 10 minute clip

[@mohammedzaheerkhan8191]

"Quite good explanatory notes. Thank you very much."

[@christianscottmcwall9963]

the poem contains enjambment and it has heroic couplets. The enjambment reflects how mad we know the duke is but the heroic couplets reflect how the duke thinks he is hero-like.

[@mellonmellon3694]

great video 2021 YAY . missed the lesson so had to catch up . thoroughly enjoyed it . also your the reason i moved from bottom to 2nd set

[@pheaenp]

Mr Bruff Literally legendary, marvelous, genius thank you so much for your videos

[@mrbruff]

No problem!

[@aaliyahalisha6883]

The use of the adverbial phrase "white mule" could suggest his wife was infertile, like a mule is, due to it being crossbred. As a result of this, he believes his marriage and his name is "gift" to her, and something she should be grateful for. Additionally, the noun "white" implies purity, contrasting with the portrayal of the Duchess by the Duke, which could indicate towards her innocence. Juxtaposition.

[@MyNinjaOfficial]

That's amazing, thanks for the interpretation 👏🏾👏🏾

[@syedaanikamansur2506]

Hey! Can you please upload a video relating to Robert Browning's poem "A Grammarian's Funeral"! It would be really helpful for my course especially because all your videos relating to poem analysis are incredibly understandable👌😊

[@LannieCamper]

you've saved my life

[@mrbruff]

Lana Rose good! Buy the eBook and we'll call it quits

[@ahjs2931]

Hi Mr Bruff, I'm a teacher. On quite an academic point: I was wondering about your source for Browning's interview in which he said the Duchess was killed. The only source I have found is his interview with Hiram Corson, in which he says "Yes, I meant that the commands were that she should be put to death [...] Or he might have had her shut up in a convent." The alternative and the fact that the author is undecided is significant. I've posted the whole extract and the link below. I agree that it's useful for students to have multiple interpretations available to them. I also think that ambitious students could explain that the author's intention in this case may have been to create indeterminacy and ambiguity. The interview certainly suggests that Browning revelled in his own ambiguity. Looking forward to hearing what you think of this! Hiram Corson: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF ROBERT BROWNING’S POETRY, 1886 (www.gutenberg.org/files/260/260-h/260-h.htm) It may be of interest, and of some value, to many students of Browning’s poetry, to know a reply he made, in regard to the expression in ‘My Last Duchess’, “I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together.” We were walking up and down the great hall of the Palazzo Rezzonico, when, in the course of what I was telling him about the study of his works in the United States, I alluded to the divided opinion as to the meaning of the above expression in ‘My Last Duchess’, some understanding that the commands were to put the Duchess to death, and others, as I have explained the expression on p. 87 of this volume (last paragraph). He made no reply, for a moment, and then said, meditatively, “Yes, I meant that the commands were that she should be put to death.” And then, after a pause, he added, with a characteristic dash of expression, and as if the thought had just started in his mind, “Or he might have had her shut up in a convent.” This was to me very significant. When he wrote the expression, “I gave commands”, etc., he may not have thought definitely what the commands were, more than that they put a stop to the smiles of the sweet Duchess, which provoked the contemptible jealousy of the Duke.

[@mrbruff]

Hi, thanks for your comment. I made this video such a long time ago that I don't remember the source. Thanks for your comments though.

[@456-s9j]

lol nobody liked or replied

[@shuchikananji-u4z]

Your video's are really help full got my English mock exam next week Tuesday wish me best of luck

[@faarisafzal5702]

A very good depth analysis all credit goes to Mr Bruff

[@mrbruff]

thanks!

[@duam7860]

have you done any of these poems for edxcel igcse (new spec) : Search for my tongue - Sujata Bhatt Sonnet 116 "Let me not to the marriage ..." - William Shakespeare La Belle Dame sans Merci - John Keates Half-caste - John Agard Remember -Christina Rosetti I'm not asking you to do one as I have heard how long it takes to make one poem analyasis .

[@mrbruff]

The sonnet yes

[@duam7860]

mrbruff ok thanks I will have a look at that one

[@kie4231]

This is so helpful in doing 2017 GCSES

[@mrbruff]

+kie4231 good

[@Seyievino_]

😔Was really in need of this....during this time of lockdown

[@abbeymay5031]

Exactly what I needed !! Thank you for taking your time to make this.

[@mrbruff]

+Abbey May no problem! Please pick up the accompanying eBook at mrbruff.com

[@kristinamarie959]

I have to do a character sketch, and this entire analysis helped out quite a bit. Thank you for posting this.

[@mrbruff]

+Kristina Marie no problem! Are you acting?

[@kristinamarie959]

I wish! I'm taking a poetry class to fulfill the English portion of my Psychology degree.

[@SoxyPoxy]

analyzed to perfection!! this stuff saves lives :)

[@mrbruff]

Thank you!