Poem Analysis
Copyright © 2011 by Allison Creutzmann | ISH | • All Rights reserved • E-Mail: allison13@ish.co.cu
How does Browning describe her love for Robert Browning in Sonnet 43?
Sonnet 43 is one of the many sonnets from the booklet “Sonnets from the Portuguese” written by E.B. Browning, in the 1850s, dedicated to her lover, Robert Browning. In the sonnet, Browning describes her love through the use of anaphora, allusions to the Bible, diction motifs, structure and punctuation.
Not only does Elizabeth Browning use anaphoras to describe her love, but also uses allusions to the Bible. Repetition of the phrase “I love thee”, followed by an explanation on how she loves Robert B., emphasises the extent of her love. Additionally, the poet repeats the former phrase exactly seven times: possibly representing the seven days of the week, conveying that she loves Robert Browning every day. Also, the anaphora can be an allusion to prayers in the Bible, as these continuously repeat expressions; therefore, giving the sonnet a prayer-like tone to show that her love is Holy. Furthermore, as Browning explains she loves Robert with the “smiles, tears” of all her life, an allusion to marital vows is created, making her love seem as if she feels they are already married. Clearly, Browning uses anaphoras and allusions to the Bible to describe her love.
Moreover, there is a strong diction motif of religion in the poem that describes Browning’s love as Holy. Saying that only her “soul” can reach the extreme love, found at the ends of “Being” and “Ideal Grace”, demonstrates that her affection towards Robert Browning is as great as her love towards God - comparing him to the Lord means putting Robert Browning above and beyond any living thing on Earth. When saying that she loves him “purely”, she is describing her love for him as sincere and great. The comparison of her love to her faith shows that she is dedicated and devoted to both, and that her love is not necessarily seen, yet felt. Moreover, loving Robert with the love, which seemed to have vanished when she lost her “Saints” shows readers that the strong emotions she once had for the now-deceased, have been transferred onto Robert Browning. Undoubtedly, Elizabeth Barrett Browning uses a diction motif of religion to describe her passion.
In addition, a diction motif of extreme love is created. When stating that she loves Robert Browning at “sun and candlelight”
Sonnet 43 is one of the many sonnets from the booklet “Sonnets from the Portuguese” written by E.B. Browning, in the 1850s, dedicated to her lover, Robert Browning. In the sonnet, Browning describes her love through the use of anaphora, allusions to the Bible, diction motifs, structure and punctuation.
Not only does Elizabeth Browning use anaphoras to describe her love, but also uses allusions to the Bible. Repetition of the phrase “I love thee”, followed by an explanation on how she loves Robert B., emphasises the extent of her love. Additionally, the poet repeats the former phrase exactly seven times: possibly representing the seven days of the week, conveying that she loves Robert Browning every day. Also, the anaphora can be an allusion to prayers in the Bible, as these continuously repeat expressions; therefore, giving the sonnet a prayer-like tone to show that her love is Holy. Furthermore, as Browning explains she loves Robert with the “smiles, tears” of all her life, an allusion to marital vows is created, making her love seem as if she feels they are already married. Clearly, Browning uses anaphoras and allusions to the Bible to describe her love.
Moreover, there is a strong diction motif of religion in the poem that describes Browning’s love as Holy. Saying that only her “soul” can reach the extreme love, found at the ends of “Being” and “Ideal Grace”, demonstrates that her affection towards Robert Browning is as great as her love towards God - comparing him to the Lord means putting Robert Browning above and beyond any living thing on Earth. When saying that she loves him “purely”, she is describing her love for him as sincere and great. The comparison of her love to her faith shows that she is dedicated and devoted to both, and that her love is not necessarily seen, yet felt. Moreover, loving Robert with the love, which seemed to have vanished when she lost her “Saints” shows readers that the strong emotions she once had for the now-deceased, have been transferred onto Robert Browning. Undoubtedly, Elizabeth Barrett Browning uses a diction motif of religion to describe her passion.
In addition, a diction motif of extreme love is created. When stating that she loves Robert Browning at “sun and candlelight”
March 2011
SCHOOL
even in the time of “most quiet need”, the poet says that she loves him during the day, night, and in times when she is alone doing something that requires complete quietness. What is more, she loves him “freely” and in the “depth & breath & height” her soul can reach; therefore she loves him without anyone telling her to do so, and loves Robert B. in an abstract way that does not exist in our dimension (conveying a love so great that it cannot be seen, only felt). Not only does she believe it is “Right” for her to love him, but also that there is no need for him to “Praise” her for her love, as she believes that loving him is the best, natural choice. It is evident that Browning describes her love through the use of an ‘extreme-love’ diction motif.
Structurally, Sonnet 43 is a Petrarchian sonnet describing Browning’s love. In the octave, there is a theme of love in a religious way; while in the sestet, the poet develops the octave’s theme and expresses more of her own insights and feelings. The repetition of the “th” sound throughout the whole sonnet, along with the steady soothing sibilance, creates a feeling of calmness throughout the poem, exhibiting that her love is either supposed to be soothing, or her love towards him is capable to be self-soothing (her natural state, she is at peace when loving him). Comprehensibly, Elizabeth Barrett Browning uses the structure as one of her ways to represent her passion towards her beloved.
The punctuation also plays a great role in the description of Browning’s love towards Robert B. Both an exclamation mark, and a question mark are found in the first line of the sonnet; these represent Browning’s excitement about the topic and show the great importance she has towards it. Also, the “?” and “!” are a proof that she wants him to know she loves him so much. The enjambment of a few lines also shows that the writer is out of breath, as she tries to list all her ways to love Robert Browning in a very tight meter.
Sonnet 43 describes Browning’s love towards Robert Browning. The fact that it came from a booklet of other sonnets all dedicated to the same person shocks me. It is clear that Browning feels deep love towards her lover due to the different literary devices she uses: Anaphoras, allusions to the Bible, diction motifs of love and religion, the structure of the sonnet and the punctuation.
By: Gaia Curti
Structurally, Sonnet 43 is a Petrarchian sonnet describing Browning’s love. In the octave, there is a theme of love in a religious way; while in the sestet, the poet develops the octave’s theme and expresses more of her own insights and feelings. The repetition of the “th” sound throughout the whole sonnet, along with the steady soothing sibilance, creates a feeling of calmness throughout the poem, exhibiting that her love is either supposed to be soothing, or her love towards him is capable to be self-soothing (her natural state, she is at peace when loving him). Comprehensibly, Elizabeth Barrett Browning uses the structure as one of her ways to represent her passion towards her beloved.
The punctuation also plays a great role in the description of Browning’s love towards Robert B. Both an exclamation mark, and a question mark are found in the first line of the sonnet; these represent Browning’s excitement about the topic and show the great importance she has towards it. Also, the “?” and “!” are a proof that she wants him to know she loves him so much. The enjambment of a few lines also shows that the writer is out of breath, as she tries to list all her ways to love Robert Browning in a very tight meter.
Sonnet 43 describes Browning’s love towards Robert Browning. The fact that it came from a booklet of other sonnets all dedicated to the same person shocks me. It is clear that Browning feels deep love towards her lover due to the different literary devices she uses: Anaphoras, allusions to the Bible, diction motifs of love and religion, the structure of the sonnet and the punctuation.
By: Gaia Curti
October 2011
Sonnet 43
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
By E.B. Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
By E.B. Browning
