Imagery: Browning's use of vivid imagery is one of the poem's strengths. The description of the portrait
captures the Duchess' beauty and her smile, allowing the reader to picture her in their mind. The use of
light and dark imagery, such as the Duke's reference to "half-flush that dies along her throat," contributes
to the mood of the poem and provides insight into the Duke's state of mind.
Metaphor: The Duke's reference to the portrait as a "thing" and his wife as "my last Duchess" are
examples of metaphorical language in the poem. These metaphors serve to dehumanize the Duchess and
emphasize the Duke's ownership and control over her.
Personification: The portrait is personified in the poem, as it is described as having a "nine-hundred-
years-old smile". This personification contributes to the mood of the poem and emphasizes the Duke's
obsession with the Duchess, even after her death.