Sonnet 43 - Elizabeth barrett Browning Flashcards
when was Elizabeth alive
in the first half of the 19th century
what is the background about her family
pretty wealthy, came from a long line of slave and plantation owners
true or false?
Elizabeth was an atheist
false
she was very religious
what was elizabeths life like?
in her early life she was happy and healthy, however she was ill and frail most of her life - she took medication which could have caused her wild imagination
what happened in the years leading up to this poem
- her mother died
- her grandmother died
- two of her brothers died
what was elizabeths relationship like with her father
it was extremely difficult as he was controlling and tyrannical
what happened with her father when Elizabeth got married
he threatened to disown her
who did she marry
Robert browning who was also a victorian writer
how did Elizabeth and Robert communicate when they first met
through secret letters
where did sonnet 43 come from
Elizabeth wrote Robert love letters and sonnets
sonnet 43 is the 43rd sonnet out of 44 that she wrote
what did this romance do to Elizabeth
revitalized her
why is the title “sonnet 43” important?
- a sonnet is a love poem
- 43rd sonnet out of 44, shows how deep and pure her love was for Robert
“I…..me…..my”
first person pronouns presents the poem as intimate
repeated “thee”
second person pronoun makes it clear that there is an intended audience - Robert browning
“How do I love thee?”
by opening with a question it establishes the poems topic
If her love must be “counted” the amount of love must be very very large
“depth and breadth and height”
this is an empathetic list
Elizabeth loves Robert in a complete and total way
why is the enjambment in the first 4 lines important
it creates a sense of breathlessness, symbolizing barretts passion for Robert
repetition of “I love thee”
shows the devotion and intensity of her love
it could also show desperation and insecurity - worried that Robert doesnt know or understand her love
how does the repetition of “I love thee” link to context
due to her rocky relationship with her father, Robert was the first man who Elizabeth new loved her. This means that Elizabeth may have wanted to to reassure Robert that she loved him too
“sun and candlelight”
the juxtaposition between these two objects shows brownings love for Robert is so extreme and all-en composing
“for right…..praise”
Elizabeth compares her love for Robert to morally righteous behavior suggesting that loving Robert is good and the right thing to do
“old griefs” “childhoods faith” “my lost saints”
these are all found in the last 6 lines of the poem, and are autobiographical references
this suggests that Robert will be as important to her life as these key moments were
“smiles, tears”
juxtaposition the her love will last forever throughout the good and the bad
what is the importance of caesura in the last 6 lines of the poem
caesura breaks up the rhythm of the poem
this could symbolize brownings excitement and passion
