Home thoughts from abroad by Robert Browning (1845) Flashcards
Context
It evokes a sentimental longing from the past, typically for a place with happy associations and a bygone era. He dreams of the change from April to May that will take place in England while he is away. Home is a sentimental place which is linked to fond memories. The speaker has a nostalgic longing for the place with happy associations.
Form
It is a sensory poem with word and phrases that evoke or appeal to any of the five senses.
It is seen as an inverted sonnet with the same rhyme scheme (ABABCCDD) in the first stanza. The second stanza is longer and consists of pentameter lines except the last line which is a tetrameter.
Analysis
The poem reacts to both romanticism as the poet reveals a connection with and love for nature. and the development of the British empire.
The poem contains sincerity as the writer longs for his home, but doesn’t miss it enough to live there.
‘Oh, to be in England’
‘oh’ creates a sense of emotional intensity .
‘Whoever wake in England’
Longing to be home and is clearly envious of whoever is there during the spring time.
‘And after April, when May follows,’
The speaker believes he will be away form England for quite some time. He dreams of the change from April to May that will take place in England while he is away.
‘All will be gay when noontide wakes anew’
The continuous use of describing nature reveals the impact nature has had on the speaker. He remembers every detail of spring in England, he was able to experience a variety of birds and plants and blossomed trees.
