"Sonnet 43" Flashcards
“I love thee”
Syntactic patterning of “I love thee” makes the poem sound like a speech or a declaration. The prominent “I”, indicates a level of agency within the speaker - this an active engagement with love
This may also sound like an archaic speech, showing it is old fashioned and not modern day.
This also shows that it is a direct address to someone, which may indicate to be defensive.
“Let me count the ways!”
The poet is prepared to read why they love the receiver.
“depth and breadth and height”
Tricolon of half-rhymes. It draws attention to units of measurement - irony, highlighting how love cannot be quantified.
This could also show that she loves him to the widest/highest point.
“Sun and candle-light”
The magnitude of love can be measured by various sizes, the “sun” which fuels all life, which is compared to “candle-light”, which appears marginal.
This also shows romantic imagery, “light” could link to happiness/life/eternal love.
“as men strive for right,”
The poet has chosen who to love, however, her father doesn’t approve. This indicates she is sticking by him no matter what problems they face.
“In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith:”
“Old griefs” and “childhood’s faith” allude ti antithetical periods of a person’s life, however are all places within the same line. This connotes a level of transcendentalism - the narrator’s relationship transcends temporal limits.
That her new love with her partner has taken over old griefs and past.
“With my lost saints”
At the end of the poem, there is a shift from the present tense “I love thee” to different tenses such as the past “with my lost saints” and future “I shall but love thee better after death”. Thus, Barrett Browning presents love in this sonnet as timeless.
This may also indicate that she has lost her faith. She compares her love and passion to some intensity of grief and faith.
“Smiles, tears, of all my life!”
Exclamatory phrase - This shows that it is a passionate poem to her partner.
“I shall but love the better after death.”
The modal “I shall” expresses a definite affirmation of love. This final line means that the speaker’s relationship over comes death and is immortal.
This may also show that it is God’s choice, and that she will love him in the afterlife.
What does the title “Sonnet 43” suggest?
A “Sonnet” is a type of love poem. Showing that the speaker is proclaiming her love and eternal passion for her beloved.
What poems link to “Sonnet 43”?
Relationships and Love - Cozy Apologia, Valentine, She Walks In Beauty
