Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Question 1

Sonnet 43
Person?
Form?
Structure?

Answer 1

1st person, Wife to husband, more personal and emotional
Petrarchan sonnet- iambic pentameter, Traditional form of love poem, pure, heartbeat rhythm
Question-answer-list, Elucidates ways she loves him

Question 2

Sonnet 43
Context?

Answer 2

-Written as part of 44 sonnets in collection’ Sonnets from the Portuguese’
-Elizabeth eloped with Robert against her father

Question 3

Sonnet 43
5 quotes

Answer 3

‘How do I love thee?’
‘to the depth and breadth and height’
‘by sun and candlelight’
‘breath/Smiles, tears of all my life’
‘I shall but love thee better after death’

Question 4

Sonnet 43
‘How do I love thee?’

Answer 4

-Opening hypophora, attempt to define love, unconventional
-Suggests intimate conversation between lovers

Question 5

Sonnet 43
‘to the depth and breadth and height’

Answer 5

-Syndetic list, extent and enormity of love
-Spatial metaphor, encompassing, fills up her soul
-Soft breathy alliteration, gentle and affectionate tone

Question 6

Sonnet 43
‘by sun and candlelight’

Answer 6

-Symbolic of day and night, adoration, loves every part of the day
-Suggest his reliable nature like the Sun
-He symbolises light

Question 7

Sonnet 43
‘breath/Smiles, tears of all my life’

Answer 7

-List, all aspects of life devoted to loving
-Each happy moment reminds her of him

Question 8

Sonnet 43
‘I shall but love thee better after death’

Answer 8

-Neither speaker nor lover named, universalises experience
-Hyperbole, love will transcend death, eternal
-Devoting herself to him