Faith and Spirituality Flashcards
(10 cards)
overview
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43 explores the deep and spiritual love the speaker feels for her partner. Throughout the poem, the theme of faith and spirituality is central, using religious imagery and language to describe a love that goes beyond the physical world. The tone is passionate, reverent, and devoted, showing how the speaker’s love is both eternal and sacred.
“I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach”.
One quote that clearly shows spirituality is “I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach”. The noun “soul” is key here—it suggests that her love is not just emotional or physical, but spiritual and eternal. It implies that her soul stretches beyond the limits of the world, almost like it’s reaching for something divine. This links to faith, as it mirrors religious belief in the soul’s immortalit
“For the ends of being and ideal grace,”
Another short quote, “For the ends of being and ideal grace,” uses abstract nouns like “being” and “grace” to emphasise the speaker’s connection to spiritual ideas. “Ideal grace” has religious connotations, as “grace” in Christianity refers to the mercy and love of God. The speaker compares her love to this kind of divine perfection, showing how spiritual it is.
“I love thee purely”
The line “I love thee purely” uses the adverb “purely” to show a kind of moral and spiritual innocence. The word “pure” suggests her love is free from selfishness or sin, just like the way religious believers try to live righteously. This line also adds to the tone of sincerity and devotion.
“with my childhood’s faith”
A particularly powerful quote is “with my childhood’s faith”. Here, the metaphor of “childhood’s faith” shows the speaker’s love is innocent, unquestioning, and strong, like the belief children often have in religion. It reflects how deep her spiritual commitment is—her love feels just as strong and certain as the faith she once had in God.
“with my lost saints,”
In “with my lost saints,” the noun “saints” again links love with religion. Saints are holy figures, so by saying she “lost” them, she could be referring to people she used to worship or believe in—maybe even lost loved ones. But now, her partner has taken that place in her heart, showing that her love is almost sacred.
“if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death”
Finally, the line “if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death” ends the poem on a strong spiritual note. The conditional clause “if God choose” shows that her love depends on divine will, and the idea of loving “after death” shows a belief in eternal life. This completely links love with faith—her love will continue, even in the afterlife, like a soul bound forever.
structure
The structure of the poem also supports the theme of faith and spirituality. It is a Petrarchan sonnet, which traditionally explores themes of ideal love. The octave builds up a sense of boundless, spiritual love, while the sestet reflects on the depth and lasting power of this love. The repetition of “I love thee” adds a prayer-like rhythm, as if the poem itself is a religious chant or devotion. The ending of the poem, with the mention of life after death, creates a feeling of eternal love—going beyond this world, just like faith in the afterlife.
context
The context of the poem also shows the theme of spirituality. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a deeply religious person, and her poetry often reflected her beliefs. She also had a difficult life, suffering from illness and isolation, which may have made her rely more on spiritual faith. Her relationship with her husband, Robert Browning, gave her new hope, and she saw their love as something blessed and God-given. That’s why the poem doesn’t just focus on romantic love—it presents it as sacred, something eternal, like religious belief.
conclusion
In conclusion, Barrett Browning presents love as a deeply spiritual experience—one that involves the soul, faith, and even God. Through quotes like “my soul can reach” and “childhood’s faith,” she links her emotions to religious devotion. The tone, structure, and context all help show that this is more than just romantic love—it’s pure, eternal, and blessed. The poem teaches us that true love can be just as powerful, sacred, and lasting as faith in God.
