sonnet 43 - analysis

Question 1

‘Sonnet 43’

Answer 1

it was number 43 out of 44 sonnets that Browning wrote as part of her collection. It was the most famous sonnets ever written. They are generally written about love

Question 2

‘how do i love thee?’

Answer 2

by asking this rhetorical question Browning questions how she can prove/express how much love she has for Robert Browning. The poem is addressed to someone personal

Question 3

‘let me count’

Answer 3

by using the verb ‘count’ could suggest there are many ways that she loves him + there are too many to list

Question 4

‘depth…breadth…height’

Answer 4

semantic field of measurement + stretch - she cannot express her deep love for him. Her love is too vast in every way

Question 5

‘my soul’

Answer 5

• could imply her love is immeasurable + infinite
• no physical measurement but measurement of the soul (spiritual connection)

Question 6

‘being…ideal grace’

Answer 6

Browning could be referring to God in this part and is comparing her love for Robert Browning as the way she loves God

Question 7

‘I love thee’

Answer 7

This is an anaphoric of ‘i love’ gives the poem a prayer like quality. This enhances religious imagery and the idea of her love being sacred

Question 8

“level of every day’s”

Answer 8

explains even though she loves him passionately she also loves him on a regular day to day basis

Question 9

‘sun…candlelight’

Answer 9

• image of ‘sun’ suggests he is her life source and she cannot live without him
  -image of ‘candlelight’ suggests that he lights up her dark thoughts
  -his love lights up her life

Question 10

‘freely’

Answer 10

adverb suggests no one is influencing the way she feels about him and could relate to how her father disapproved of their relationship

Question 11

‘strive for right’

Answer 11

implies she is willing to ‘fight’ for their love

Question 12

‘purely….praise’

Answer 12

she links her love to good deeds + moral living. She believes her love is pure

Question 13

‘old griefs’

Answer 13

• could imply she has turned bitterness + anger she had previously into something positive because she loves him so much
• he has transformed her sadness into happiness
  -Elizabeth has forgotten about last troubles

Question 14

‘childhood’s faith’

Answer 14

she compares her love to the blind faith children commonly have (everything will work out and be okay)

Question 15

i love thee with ‘breath’

Answer 15

could suggest she loves everything about Robert Browning. She loves him with every emotion, Even with every ‘breath’ she takes she thinks about him. Elizabeth is completely devoted to him

Question 16

‘smile, tears’

Answer 16

In good times and the bad times, Elizabeth will love Robert forever.
Echoes marital vows - ‘in sickness and in health’

Question 17

‘if God choose’

Answer 17

God is still in charge of her life. Elizabeth still has respect for religion

Question 18

‘better after death’

Answer 18

Elizabeth suggests her love is eternal and it is a level of commitment she is willing to promise