Sonnet 43

Question 1

What is the poem about

Answer 1

The Absolute intense love with her to be husband. Fourteen line iambic pentameter w/ specific rhyme scheme.

Question 2

Context?

Answer 2

Browning - deeply religious

• published a series of 44 sonnets addressing her husband.
• Browning writes EBB praising the excellence of her work after previous collection of poetry- Subsequently they marry.

Question 3

Key quotes:

Answer 3

"Count the ways"
"My soul" "grace"
"I love thee" (repeated)
"I love thee freely"
"Depth breadth and height"
"With my lost saints"
"And if God choose, shall I love thee better after death"

Question 4

Analysis of:

“Count the ways”

Answer 4

Love has may layers suggesting live is broad = lots of different ways why she loves her hubby

Question 5

Analysis of:

“My soul” “grace”

Answer 5

With religious background = relating her love to religion

Love being transcendent like her “soul”= her love is above everything else.

Loves browning with such intensity that she has same love for God

Question 6

Analysis of:

“I love thee” (repeated)

Answer 6

Reflects devotion and persistent nature of the love she feels.

Question 7

Analysis of:

“I love thee, freely”

Answer 7

Suggesting love has liberated her & given her freedom (from illness / drugs)

Lifted burden off her shoulders

Question 8

Analysis of:

“Depth and breadth and height”

Answer 8

“And” repetition = poem is comprehensive & aims to fully define her love for hubby

show reader an aspect of breathlessness suggesting excitement ( when pronounced/read aloud).

Question 9

Analysis of:

“With my lost saints”

Answer 9

Husband us her saviour- lost in religion but hubby gives her faith saving her.

Lost Ivor for religion & now fully devoted husband

Question 10

Analysis of:

“And if hod choose, I shall love thee better after death”

Answer 10

Love is eternal- if God puts then together in after life = love will increase (no bounds of life)

Shows love is ever present & active almost a being in itself

Question 11

Structure

Answer 11

• Traditional sonnet
• Regular rhyme scheme but flexible use of assonance
• Rhyme scheme = love can take any form doesn’t have to be regular
• Opening with Q = convo between clue
• Punctuation shows passion & excitement (exclamation points)

Question 12

Compare with:

Answer 12

Valentine
The manhunt
She walks in beauty
The soldier