Sonnet 29 “i Think Of Thee!” Flashcards
Who wrote sonnet 29 “I think of thee!”
Elizabeth Barrett browning
What does the poem express?
Longing to be reunited with her lover.
The poem conveys deep emotional sentiments regarding separation.
Who is the speaker in the poem?
A female speaker addressing her lover.
The perspective is personal and intimate.
What is the title of the poem?
A direct address from the woman to her lover.
This suggests a personal connection and immediacy.
What are the main themes of the poem?
- Longing
- Desire
- Passion
- Nature
These themes reflect the emotional landscape of the poem.
Who was Barrett Browning?
A very successful poet in her own lifetime
Known for her romantic poetry and her secret marriage to Robert Browning.
What significant event occurred after Barrett Browning married Robert Browning?
Her father disinherited her
This reflects the conflict between her personal life and her family’s expectations.
What is the theme of the poem mentioned in the context?
It is about her future husband
This poem is one of many she wrote on similar themes of love and affection.
What role does natural imagery play in Barrett Browning’s poetry?
It plays a prominent role
Natural imagery is often used to convey emotions and themes in her work.
What form does the sonnet loosely follow?
Petrarchan form
The Petrarchan sonnet consists of an octave and a sestet.
What does the opening eight lines of the sonnet represent?
The problem (the physical distance between them)
This section is known as the octave.
What do the remaining six lines of the sonnet provide?
The solution
This section is referred to as the sestet.
In which line does the turning point (volta) occur?
Line 7
This early volta reflects the narrator’s impatience.
How does the structure of the poem reflect the narrator’s feelings?
Transition from thinking about her lover to being with her lover
This reflects a shift from longing to fulfillment.
Who was Petrarch?
A 14th century Italian poet
He wrote sonnets focused on emotional desire rather than physical presence.
What is the main theme of Petrarch’s sonnets?
Emotional desire for someone
His work often emphasizes longing rather than physical intimacy.
What extended metaphor is used in the poem?
The lover as a ‘tree’ and the speaker’s thoughts as ‘wild vines’
This metaphor reflects growth and strength in the relationship.
What does the metaphor of the ‘tree’ and ‘wild vines’ suggest about the speaker’s feelings?
It suggests a desire for the lover to be big and strong while expressing uncontrollable emotions.
How is the language described in the poem?
Bursting with excitement, full of repetition, exclamation marks, imperatives, and plosive sounds
Examples include words like ‘burst’, ‘shattered’, and ‘everywhere!’.
What poetic techniques contribute to the sense of desire and longing in the poem?
Caesura and enjambment
These techniques enhance the flow and emotional intensity of the poem.
Fill in the blank: The lover is compared to a _______ in the poem.
[tree]
True or False: The poem’s language is controlled and restrained.
False
What emotional state does the language of the poem convey?
Uncontrollable desire and longing
What is the significance of the repetition of the title in the poem?
It implies an obsession
The title is repeated multiple times, indicating the narrator’s intense focus on the subject.
