Vendler Grid Poem Analysis

Vendler Grid: "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning 

Meaning	the poem depicts a man explaining the story behind a woman painted on his wall. From my understanding, the woman was once his wife and he was in love with her and was attracted to her beauty, but she was "too easily impressed" by other men. No mater how much he gave her (even his last name), she valued him no more than the other men. They're love faded, smiles from one another grew scarce. Has was forced to make a decision on whether or not to confront her about it. And when he did, she made excuses. But he refused to "stoop" to her level. He "gave commands" in making him the only man in her life. Now they share few smiles when passing by one another, but they do not have the same meaning as the smiles they shared when they were in love. He then comes back to the picture, noting that she stands in it, "still alive", but their love/memories dead. The poem ends with a a statement about a bronze neptune with a sea horse that is a "rarity."
Antecedent Scenario	The prior circumstance is that the man from the story was in love and pursuing a relationship/marriage with the women depicted in the painting.
Structural Parts	Browning structures his poem by setting the stage of this painting, and then elaborates on the meaning/story behind it, and ends by connecting is back to reality. He takes us on a journey between reality and what's happening in the moment, to remising to the past and painting the picture of their tragic love.
Climax	The climax of the poem occurs when the couple reaches the highest point of intensity within their arguments, and unfortunately, it's paired with the lowest form of affection for each other. the man tells us he gave "commands" to the woman, ultimately this leads to the fate of them falling out of love.
Other Parts	The poems resolution is they now act like strangers passing by with friendly smiles, but the memories remain and haunt the man for what "could have been."

Skeleton	I think the skeleton of the poem falls back on the structure. The them is obviously "lost love." Browning builds his poem through outward questioning and internal thoughts.
Content Genre- games	Love, heartbreak, lust, the past/future, lost time, reminiscent, etc.
Tone	I found the tone of the poem to be affiliated with love and heart break, but not completely sappy. It has a hint of wonder and hope attached to it. The tone is shown through the man's struggles when losing the woman he loves, then it falls into anger trying to fix things, and the lasting tone for me, was  when he realizes he has to move on, he is forced to face the defeat whiten the relationship- it failed. The tone can be described as reminiscent but hopeful for a better tomorrow in the chance to find true love. In short, i think the tone can best be described as a "healing" tone of putting the pieces back together.
Agency
Roads Not Taken	The poem never really touched on her point of view. Maybe the woman was with him for the wrong reasons, but maybe she has a reason behind them. Also, the poem never explicitly says how he tried to fix it other than making demands, and she made excuses. It kept the fighting/arguing very broad. Which I think benefited the story bcuz it shows how all relationships have their problems.
Speech Acts	Most of the dialogue within the story was questioning, summary of events, and conversation between the man and a guest at his party whom he's showing the painting. There is also countless comparisons made through out the poem. these analogies help in explaining how the man feels about the break up.
Outer and Inner Structural Forms	The poem touches on the mans emotions, but in such a delicate way that you have to connect the dots about how he feels. It's obvious he was trying to fix thing shy confronting her about valuing other men equally as much as himself. But the structure of the end of the poem, is so well done because after finishing the tale of his broken love, he is reminded of what's going on around him. And he snaps out of this trans of remembering the past. He then quickly changes the subject remembering he's not "supposed" to still think about her in such a way. The last night then talks about a bronze statue of neptune taming a sea horse; a rarity. The sea horse symbolizes how he could not tame the woman he loved, so he had to let her go.
Imagination	The poem is very imaginative as it depicts one of the greatest universal messages in life; love. And even more so, lost love. Heartbreak is one of the most powerful feelings all humans posses, and Browning creates an imaginative story that takes us on a journey through the struggle of healing and, sometimes, even forcing to ferret about the people we once lord so much. It shows that we all must take steps forward and whether we like it or not, we must move on in life.

My Last Duchess

BY ROBERT BROWNING

 FERRARA

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 pretense 

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!