Romantic Love/Infatuation

Question 1

Poems to Compare:

Answer 1

Sonnet 29: I Think of Thee - Elizabeth Barrett Browning

SIngh Song - Daljit Nagra

Question 2

Relevant Context:

Answer 2

EBB was isolated before her husband (longed to be outside in nature); DN is a 1st generation (he knows this world that he writes about)
S29 challenges Victorian societal stereotypes of women; DN celebrates stereotypes of Indians/immigrants

Question 3

Structure/Form:

Answer 3

S29: regular rhyme scheme (thought through); SS: inconsistent rhyme scheme (language barrier or instantaneous thoughts)
S29: use of caesura “better! Rather” - organising her emotions; SS: lack of punctuation (lang. barrier? mimics free speech)
S29: sonnet form; SS: has a refrain like a song — (Victorian literature vs Bollywood media)

Question 4

Language:

Answer 4

S29: “straggling green” her thoughts are inferior; SS: anaphora of “vee share” showing unity
S29: sibilance “presence: as a strong tree should” imagining him (tree) there; SS: above “head high heel” tap - monosyllabic - his wife is actually there
S29: she defies society “bare”; SS: the wife is challenging society “tartan sari” “effing […] in all colours of Punjabi” - ironic that its Singh Song