Sonnet 43 Flashcards
who wrote Sonnet 43?
Elizabeth Barret Browning
why was Elizabeth barret Browning writing Sonnet 43 unusual for the time?
as it was not acceptable for a young-middle class women to write poems
structure of Sonnet 43?
sonnet- traditional love poem
context and meaning of Sonnet 43?
-sonnet is different from normal form- poet does not try to achieve perfection
-poet also expresses female desire and longing in a very open and unashamed way. Uncommon for the Victorian era
How is religion used by Barret-Browning?
-uses religious imagery throughout the poem to show that she is entirely devoted to her lover
-she does not present her love as perfect- serves God- “if God Choose” shows that this love is not the same as her love for god
-uses religious language to suggest that the love for her husband is almost uncomparable
how is devotion used by Barret-Browning?
-the anaphora (repetition over consecutive lines) of “I love thee” sounds almost like a prayer to her lover. It also shows that she is entirely devoted to her partner
-also asks for nothing in return- the poem focuses entirely on how much she loves her partner, rather than what she gets from the relationship
how does Barret- Browning use praise simile’s?
-“I love thee purely, as thee turn from praise”
-she is comparing her love to religious devotion
-emphasises how selflessly devoted she is to her lover- like a person of faith to God
How does Barret-Browning use openness of the female desire?
-the narrator is unashamed and open about her feelings. shown through “let me count the ways”
-uses Iambic Pentameter and disruptive punctuation to mimic natural speech- creates a sense that the poem is a passionate speech rather than a controlled love poem
How does Barret-Browning subvert forms and norms?
-does not follow the rules of a sonnet
-gives a female perspective (as women are usually silent).
-also a celebration of her love, rather than a complaint about her partners lack of feeling
what perspective is Sonnet 43 written from and analyse it?
first person- gives it a sense of intimacy- deeply personal feelings- “quiet need” and loves him with “passion” and “childhoods faith”- complex love
how does Barret-Browning use a lifetime of love and in what quotation?
-“better after death”, “old griefs”- shows she would stay with him through everything- both positive and negative
-also their love will outlive their time on earth- God supports their love suggests that she believes in its purity
finish the quote, “How do i love thee?…
let me count the ways’
analyse the quote, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways”
Barret-Browning asks an impossible question- can’t measure her love
-makes their love seem methodical and intense
-use of “thee” makes it personal and direct
finish the quote, “If God choose/ I shall….
but love the better after death’
analyse the quote, “If god choose/ I shall but love thee better after death”
her love is so strong that it will outlive them after death- overwhelming and intense
finish the quote, “I love thee to the level….
of everyday’s, most quiet need’
analyse the quote “I love thee to the level of everyday’s, most quiet need”
although Sonnet 43 offers many grand comparisons- however, this quotation shows a different side of love- presence of her love in her everyday actions- their love is calm and constant
