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.
What type of imagery is used to reflect the narrator’s thoughts?
Natural imagery
This imagery shows how her thoughts about him are constantly growing.
What effect does first person and direct address have on the poem?
Makes the poem more personal
The use of ‘I’ and direct address creates a closer connection to the reader.
What metaphor is used in the line ‘my thoughts do twine and bud about thee’?
The narrator as ‘wild vines’ and her lover as the ‘tree’
This metaphor illustrates the growth and entanglement of her thoughts around him.
What does the line ‘Put out broad leaves, and soon there’s nought to see’ suggest?
The vines, and her thoughts, are inferior to the man himself
The imagery conveys that her thoughts obscure the true essence of her lover.
What rhyme scheme does the poem follow?
ABBA ABBA
This scheme follows the traditional Petrarchan Sonnet form.
What is the narrator’s feeling towards just thinking of him?
She is fed up and wants him with her now
This desire presents the problem in the octave.
What is the narrator’s plea to her lover in the line ‘I will not have my thoughts instead of thee’?
She wants his physical presence
The line emphasizes her longing for him over mere thoughts.
What literary device indicates the turning point or volta in the poem?
Caesura
This occurs in line 7, marking a shift in the narrator’s impatience.
Where does the volta traditionally occur in a Petrarchan sonnet?
Line 9
In this poem, the volta occurs earlier, at line 7, highlighting the narrator’s urgency.
What is the focus of the concluding sestet?
The problem is resolved
This indicates a shift in the narrative where the issues presented earlier are addressed.
What type of imagery is suggested in the text?
Possible erotic imagery
This may indicate a deeper emotional or physical connection being explored.
What does the extended metaphor compare the narrator to?
Vines
This metaphor suggests entanglement and connection with her lover, who is compared to a tree.
What literary device is used to emphasize the narrator’s excitement?
Caesura
This technique creates a pause that heightens the emotional impact of the following words.
What effect does the exclamation mark have in the text?
Adds to the excitement
It emphasizes the strength of the narrator’s feelings in the moment.
What is the significance of the line ‘Rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk all bare’?
It invites openness and vulnerability
This reflects a desire for intimacy and connection.
What does the phrase ‘drop heavily down, - burst, shattered, everywhere!’ suggest?
A release of emotions
This imagery conveys a sense of overwhelming joy and abandon.
What does the narrator not think about when she is with her lover?
Thee
This indicates a shift from longing to presence, highlighting the fulfillment of her desires.
What does the reversal of the title and opening line signify?
A change in the narrator’s position
It reflects her transition from longing to experiencing fulfillment.
How does the repetition of ‘thee’ function in the text?
Emphasizes the narrator’s focus on her lover
This repetition underscores the depth of her feelings and the importance of the lover in her life.
What is the structure of a Petrarchan sonnet?
It consists of an octave and a sestet.
What is the purpose of a volta in a sonnet?
It signifies a shift in the argument or theme.
What type of imagery is frequently used in the poem?
Natural imagery.
What poetic device involves the repetition of sounds?
Repetition.
What is enjambment?
The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line.
What is caesura?
A pause in a line of poetry, often placed for effect.
What type of sounds are emphasized by plosive sounds?
Consonant sounds produced with a burst of air.
Fill in the blank: The main themes explored in the poem include _______.
[longing, desire, distance, impatience, intensity, obsession].
Which two poems are linked for their portrayal of fulfilling relationships?
‘Singh Song!’ and ‘Climbing my Grandfather’.
Which poem explores natural imagery and distance?
‘Winter Swans’.
What is a common theme in ‘Love’s Philosophy’?
Natural imagery and relationships.
