Sonnet 43 (Elizabeth Barrett Browning)

Question 1

CONTEXT (A03)

Answer 1

written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
- she was an English poet of the Victorian era
- married to Robert Browning (who was also a Victorian poet)
purpose
- a declaration of her undying love and passion towards her husband (Robert Browning)
written before their marriage
- therefore the poem contains connotations of secrecy

Question 2

STRUCTURE

Answer 2

• iambic pentameter (stresses the 1-syllable words)
• octave/sestet
• regular rhyme scheme

Question 3

FORM

Answer 3

written in sonnet form

Question 4

‘How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.’

Answer 4

‘?’ - RHETORICAL QUESTION

‘Let me count the ways.’ - HYPOPHORA (answers the rhetorical question immediately) - conveys innocence as the speaker eases into a declaration of love.

Question 5

‘I love thee to the depth and breadth and height’

Answer 5

‘I love thee’ - ANAPHORA - the speaker is overwhelmed with her feelings

‘depth and breadth and height’ - SPATIAL METAPHOR - shows the immeasurable nature of her love since it is consuming and multi-dimensional

Question 6

‘…when feeling out of sight’

Answer 6

references the secretive nature of their relationship (AO3)

- the poem was written before their marriage

Question 7

‘I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.’

Answer 7

‘purely’ - ADVERB - humble, modest love

Question 8

‘In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.’

Answer 8

‘old griefs’ - referring to the death of her mother and brother (A03)

‘childhood’s faith’ - innocence, humble, modest love

Question 9

‘I shall but love thee better after death.’

Answer 9

‘shall’ - MODAL VERB - speaker’s intention to love even after she dies

‘death’ - indicates the unending passion she has towards her lover