Poem 4 - Elizabeth Barett Browning - Sonnet 29 ("I Think of Thee!") Flashcards
When was the poet alive?
1806-1861
When was the poem written?
1845-1846
What is the poem about?
The narrator admits to her lover that she thinks about him when not with him, and that she’s worried her thoughts will obscure the reality of what he’s really like. She reassures him that her thoughts don’t compare to reality and would rather just be with him instead of constantly thinking about him.
Describe the form of the poem.
The poem is written as a Petrarchan sonnet, an octave followed by a sestet. The first 8 lines are meant to provide a problem and the next six to solve it. The poet instead comes to the solution at lin 7, having it come early reflects the narrator’s impatience to be with her lover.
Why is the poem structured in the way that it is?
The transition between the problem and solution represents the difference in the narrator thinking about her lover and being with him, this reflection is emphasised by the first and last line of the poem, “I think of thee!” and “I do not think of thee- I am too near thee.”
How is language themed around nature used in the poem?
The narrator uses an extended metaphor throughout the poem, where her lover is a tree and her obsessive thinking about him is a set of “wild vines”, which cover him until “there’s nought to see”. This represents here thoughts as an unrestrained growing urge, and the image of him casting off the vines is her wanting him to be a strong and permanent part of her life.
Describe the use of excited language in the poem.
The use of exclamation marks throughout the poem demonstrates the narrator’s excitability and the joy in thinking about her lover. The plosive sounds and the dynamic verbs further emphasise this.
How does the poet start the poem? Why does she do this?
The poem starts with “I think of thee!”, this immediately draws the readers attention to her lover, and the fact that she is addressing him personally makes it seem much more personal.
What is the importance of “…my thoughts do twine and bud // About thee, as wild vines, about a tree,” (Lines 1 and 2)?
The natural imagery of the growing vines reflects the constant growth and development of her feelings for her lover, as well as their intense and invasive nature.
How does the narrator emphasise her lover’s character as a tree in the poem?
Through the use of internal rhyme in line 2 of “thee” and “tree”.
What does “broad leaves” (Line 3) signify about the poet’s feelings for her lover?
That her love for him is extensive.
What is the significance of “and soon there’s nought to see // Except the straggling green which hides the wood.” (Lines 3 and 4)?
That the narrator’s thoughts threaten to prevent her from seeing him as he truly is.
What does “the straggling green” (Line 4) suggest about the narrator’s thoughts?
It suggests that the vines are inferior to the tree- so her thoughts about him are inferior to the real thing.
What does “O my palm-tree” (Line 5) suggest about the narrator and the feelings?
The use of the possessive “my” emphasises the narrator’s clinginess to her lover, while “palm-tree” makes the lover appear more exotic, and valuable.
What is the significance of “I will not have my thoughts instead of thee // Who art dearer, better!” (Lines 6 and 7)?
The monosyllabism of line 6 makes the line read very quickly, almost as if shouting a command, which shows the intensity of her feelings. The exclamation reinforces this as well as representing the volta of the poem as the narrator comes to the solution to her dilemma.
