Question

What effect does enjambment have on the Duke’s monologue in “My Last Duchess”?

• A. It emphasizes the rhyme
• B. It makes each line end conclusively
• C. It creates a smooth, fast-flowing rhythm
• D. It makes the Duke’s speech seem disjointed

Answer 1

Answer:

C. It creates a smooth, fast-flowing rhythm

Enjambment occurs when a line of poetry runs into the next without a pause. This technique speeds up the rhythm and mimics spontaneous speech, reinforcing the naturalistic tone of the Duke's monologue. For instance:

“My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name / With anybody’s gift. Who’d stoop to blame…”
This flowing style contrasts sharply with the horrifying content, highlighting the ironic distance between form and meaning.