We completed our analysis of Poe's "The Raven" by examining the speaker's change in tone and increasing anxiety level as he confronts the raven who steadfastly remains perched upon the bust of Pallas. Noting the symbolism of both Pallas and the Raven, we explored the speaker's internal conflict between rationality and irrational terror in which ultimately the irrational gloomily prevails. Nina discussed the use of alliteration, internal rhyme ,and assonance and noted how these sound devices enhance meaning and imagery. We next began an analysis of Browning's. "My Last Duchess". I discussed the nostalgia that defined in the Victorian Era, here evidenced by the poem's setting in the 16th Century. We identified the speaker as well as the form of poem, a dramatic poem ,or monologue. Structurally, I noted how the enjambment hides the consistent use of rhyming couplets . We then began parsing the passages that reveal the ostentatious personality of the speaker , a. Duke, who places a high value on his title, prestige , and wealth.