Comparison Between My Last Duchess Ulysses Regarding...

Question : What is a dramatic monologue? Which of the two, in your opinion, is the stronger dramatic monologue in Tennyson’s â€Å"Ulysses† or Brownings â€Å"My Last Duchess†? Answer : Traditionally dramatic monologue is a lyrical poem in the form of speech spoken by a single man. It is dramatic because it begins abruptly and in the development of its thought it takes several sudden turns which impart dramatic dimension to the poem. In a dramatic monologue the single speaker reveals his thoughts in the presence of a single silent listener or some silent listeners. The speaker is not necessarily the poet himself though the speaker often gives out the poets belief and philosophy. The speakers revelation, in fact, leads the readers to probe†¦show more content†¦He tells them, â€Å"you and I are old.† These are the clues which lead us to believe that other mariners are present but they do not speak. Telemachus presence is also felt. Tennyson here follows the tradition of allowing one person to speak and keeping others silent. In â€Å"My Last Duchess† we see the same thing. As the poem progresses, it becomes clear that only a single per son speaks. The speaker is the Duke of Ferrara who is talking about his dead Duchess portrait painted by Fra Pandolf. At several points of the poem it becomes evident that there is a listener who remains silent. For example, when the duke says â€Å"Willt please you sit and look at her?† or â€Å"Willt you please rise?† we understand that someone is present around him. Later in the poem, we come to know that he is an emissary for the second marriage of the Duke. Throughout the poem he does not talk. But his reactions are revealed through the Dukes speech. For example, the clue to understand the surprise in the emissarys face has been revealed by the Duke himself : â€Å"so not the first/ Are you to turn and ask thus.† We know he does not ask anything but there has been a question in his countenance. Tennyson reveals his hearts desire in â€Å"Ulysses†. This is another aspect of dramatic monologue. He says he does not enjoy peaceful life at home, and so, h e wants to set out for new adventures. His inner thoughts have been revealed. However, the revelation is very simple and plain. The speaker here is