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Sonnet 43 Annotation - Simple Summary and Line-by-Line Analysis

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Sonnet 43 Annotation - Simple Summary and Line-by-Line Analysis
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jasmine

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Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a powerful expression of love, utilizing the Petrarchan sonnet form to convey the depth and breadth of the poet's affection. This Victorian poetry analysis explores the various ways in which the speaker loves, from spiritual heights to everyday needs.

  • The poem is structured as a Petrarchan sonnet with 14 lines and a specific rhyme scheme (ABBA ABBA CDCDCD).
  • It employs religious imagery and natural metaphors to illustrate the intensity of love.
  • The poem serves as a secret message to Robert Browning, expressing the poet's deep love for him.

2/23/2023

448

Imagined he's asked
all the waysand reasons
why she loves him
Sonnet 43
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
s
I love thee to the dept

Sonnet 43 Analysis

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 43, also known as "How do I love thee? (sonnet 43)", is a masterpiece of Victorian poetry that explores the multifaceted nature of love. This line-by-line analysis reveals the depth and complexity of the poet's emotions.

Quote: "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."

This opening line sets the tone for the entire poem, introducing the central theme of quantifying and describing love in various ways.

Highlight: The poem uses measurements and comparisons to express the vastness of the speaker's love.

The poet employs phrases like "depth and breadth and height" to convey the immeasurable nature of her affection. This use of spatial imagery creates a sense of love that extends beyond physical boundaries.

Vocabulary: Anaphora - A rhetorical device where a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.

The repetition of "I love thee" throughout the poem is an example of anaphora, emphasizing the speaker's devotion and the many facets of her love.

Example: "I love thee to the level of every day's / Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight."

This line illustrates how the speaker's love extends to everyday life, suggesting that her affection is not just for grand moments but also for the quiet, ordinary aspects of existence.

Definition: Petrarchan sonnet - A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme (ABBA ABBA CDCDCD) and typically divided into an octave and a sestet.

The Sonnet 43 structure follows the Petrarchan form, with the octave presenting the ways of loving and the sestet delving into the spiritual aspects of love.

Highlight: The poem draws parallels between romantic love and religious devotion.

Phrases like "ideal Grace" and "lost saints" suggest that the speaker's love has either restored her faith in God or replaced her religious devotion with romantic love.

Quote: "I love thee with the passion put to use / In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith."

This line implies that the speaker's love is as intense as her past sorrows and as pure as her childhood beliefs, adding depth to her emotional expression.

Vocabulary: Volta - A turn or shift in thought or emotion in a sonnet, typically occurring between the octave and sestet.

The volta in Sonnet 43 is subtle, transitioning from describing the ways of loving to exploring the spiritual and eternal nature of love.

Highlight: The poem concludes with a reference to love extending beyond death.

The final lines, "and, if God choose, / I shall but love thee better after death," suggest that the speaker's love is so profound that it will continue to grow even in the afterlife.

This Victorian poetry analysis of Sonnet 43 reveals Elizabeth Barrett Browning's masterful use of poetic techniques to express the depth and complexity of love. The poem's enduring popularity is a testament to its ability to capture the universal experience of profound affection.

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Love this App ❤️, I use it basically all the time whenever I'm studying

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

Knowunity was a featured story by Apple and has consistently topped the app store charts within the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Ranked #1 Education App

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

4.9+

Average App Rating

13 M

Students use Knowunity

#1

In Education App Charts in 12 Countries

950 K+

Students uploaded study notes

Still not sure? Look at what your fellow peers are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much [...] I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a C to an A with it :D

Stefan S, iOS User

The application is very simple and well designed. So far I have found what I was looking for :D

SuSSan, iOS User

Love this App ❤️, I use it basically all the time whenever I'm studying

Sonnet 43 Annotation - Simple Summary and Line-by-Line Analysis

user profile picture

jasmine

@jasmine01928472

·

25 Followers

Follow

Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a powerful expression of love, utilizing the Petrarchan sonnet form to convey the depth and breadth of the poet's affection. This Victorian poetry analysis explores the various ways in which the speaker loves, from spiritual heights to everyday needs.

  • The poem is structured as a Petrarchan sonnet with 14 lines and a specific rhyme scheme (ABBA ABBA CDCDCD).
  • It employs religious imagery and natural metaphors to illustrate the intensity of love.
  • The poem serves as a secret message to Robert Browning, expressing the poet's deep love for him.

2/23/2023

448

 

10/11

 

English Literature

4

Imagined he's asked
all the waysand reasons
why she loves him
Sonnet 43
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
s
I love thee to the dept

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Sonnet 43 Analysis

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 43, also known as "How do I love thee? (sonnet 43)", is a masterpiece of Victorian poetry that explores the multifaceted nature of love. This line-by-line analysis reveals the depth and complexity of the poet's emotions.

Quote: "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."

This opening line sets the tone for the entire poem, introducing the central theme of quantifying and describing love in various ways.

Highlight: The poem uses measurements and comparisons to express the vastness of the speaker's love.

The poet employs phrases like "depth and breadth and height" to convey the immeasurable nature of her affection. This use of spatial imagery creates a sense of love that extends beyond physical boundaries.

Vocabulary: Anaphora - A rhetorical device where a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.

The repetition of "I love thee" throughout the poem is an example of anaphora, emphasizing the speaker's devotion and the many facets of her love.

Example: "I love thee to the level of every day's / Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight."

This line illustrates how the speaker's love extends to everyday life, suggesting that her affection is not just for grand moments but also for the quiet, ordinary aspects of existence.

Definition: Petrarchan sonnet - A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme (ABBA ABBA CDCDCD) and typically divided into an octave and a sestet.

The Sonnet 43 structure follows the Petrarchan form, with the octave presenting the ways of loving and the sestet delving into the spiritual aspects of love.

Highlight: The poem draws parallels between romantic love and religious devotion.

Phrases like "ideal Grace" and "lost saints" suggest that the speaker's love has either restored her faith in God or replaced her religious devotion with romantic love.

Quote: "I love thee with the passion put to use / In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith."

This line implies that the speaker's love is as intense as her past sorrows and as pure as her childhood beliefs, adding depth to her emotional expression.

Vocabulary: Volta - A turn or shift in thought or emotion in a sonnet, typically occurring between the octave and sestet.

The volta in Sonnet 43 is subtle, transitioning from describing the ways of loving to exploring the spiritual and eternal nature of love.

Highlight: The poem concludes with a reference to love extending beyond death.

The final lines, "and, if God choose, / I shall but love thee better after death," suggest that the speaker's love is so profound that it will continue to grow even in the afterlife.

This Victorian poetry analysis of Sonnet 43 reveals Elizabeth Barrett Browning's masterful use of poetic techniques to express the depth and complexity of love. The poem's enduring popularity is a testament to its ability to capture the universal experience of profound affection.

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

Knowunity was a featured story by Apple and has consistently topped the app store charts within the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Ranked #1 Education App

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

4.9+

Average App Rating

13 M

Students use Knowunity

#1

In Education App Charts in 12 Countries

950 K+

Students uploaded study notes

Still not sure? Look at what your fellow peers are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much [...] I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a C to an A with it :D

Stefan S, iOS User

The application is very simple and well designed. So far I have found what I was looking for :D

SuSSan, iOS User

Love this App ❤️, I use it basically all the time whenever I'm studying