Sonnet 29 - 'I think of thee' Flashcards
1
Q
Who wrote Sonnet 29 - ‘I think of Thee’
A
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
2
Q
‘my thoughts do…
A
… twine and bud about thee, as wild vines about a tree’
- Simile for her feelings
- ‘wild vines’ show a sense of intimacy - interdependence or suffocating?
3
Q
‘O my…
A
… palm tree
- Metaphor connoting Christian belief and faith, symbolising her devotion?
- ‘O’ adds more passion to phrase
4
Q
‘Renew thy presence;…
A
… as a strong tree should’
- Extends natural imagery as she desires strength and safety
5
Q
‘Let these bands…
A
… of greenery which insphere thee drop heavily down - burst, shattered, everywhere’
- Natural and phallic imagery with sexual connotations - physical desire?
- Intensity in the verbs ‘burst’ and ‘shattered’
- Sexual or metaphor for breaking free of societal expectations?
6
Q
‘I do not think…
A
… of thee - I am too near thee’
- Monosyllabic emphasising positivity and simplicity in love
7
Q
How is structure used in Sonnet 29 - ‘I think of thee!’ ?
A
- In the opening phrase ‘I think of thee!’ an exclamation mark is used in the caesura to emphasise intensity of her feelings (sense of breathlessness)
8
Q
What are the main themes of Sonnet 29?
A
- Intensity of love
- Desire and lust
- Nature
9
Q
Which poem should be compared with Sonnet 29?
A
Love’s Philosophy
