Love Flashcards
(10 cards)
overview
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43 explores deep, spiritual, and everlasting love. The speaker uses hyperbole, religious imagery, and a passionate tone to express the intensity of her feelings. The poem is a declaration of love, likely for her husband, poet Robert Browning. Through its personal and emotional language, Browning shows love as pure, constant, and transcendent.
“I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach.”
One key quote is “I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach.” The use of triplet and hyperbole emphasises how limitless her love is. By measuring love in spiritual dimensions, Browning suggests it goes beyond the physical world. The abstract nouns “depth,” “breadth,” and “height” create a sense of grandeur, showing that her love is vast and eternal.
“I love thee to the level of every day’s Most quiet need.”
Another example is “I love thee to the level of every day’s Most quiet need.” This shows love as consistent and ordinary, not just dramatic. The phrase “quiet need” uses enjambment to mirror the flow of daily life, suggesting that love isn’t only passionate, but also found in the calm, unspoken moments. The tone here is gentle and sincere.
“I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
The line “I love thee freely, as men strive for right.” uses a simile comparing love to fighting for justice. The adverb “freely” implies that her love is given willingly and without force, which reflects moral integrity. This also shows the speaker respects her partner deeply, making love seem noble and honourable.
“I love thee purely, as they turn from praise,”
In the quote “I love thee purely, as they turn from praise,” Browning uses religious connotations. “Purely” links to purity and innocence, and the idea of turning from praise suggests humility. This kind of love is not done for attention or reward, but selfless and genuine. It makes the tone feel more sacred and reverent.
“with my childhood’s faith”
The phrase “with my childhood’s faith” uses nostalgia to show how innocent and unconditional her love is. Childhood faith is often unshakable, so Browning implies her love is unwavering and instinctive. This creates a tone of sincerity and vulnerability, as if she’s trusting fully without fear.
“I shall but love thee better after death”
Finally, “I shall but love thee better after death” shows the theme of eternal love. The modal verb “shall” makes it sound certain, and the idea of loving after death suggests that love can conquer even mortality. This links to Romantic ideals and Christian beliefs about the soul’s immortality, giving the poem a spiritual and hopeful tone.
structure
In terms of structure, the poem is a sonnet, traditionally used for love poetry. It has 14 lines and is written in iambic pentameter, which gives it a natural, heartbeat-like rhythm. This reinforces the idea that love is vital and constant. The repetition of “I love thee” creates a passionate, almost obsessive tone, building intensity throughout the poem. The volta, or shift, is subtle, but the final line takes the love beyond life, suggesting it only grows stronger.
context
Contextually, Browning wrote this sonnet during the Victorian era, at a time when women were expected to be more reserved. Her bold and expressive declarations of love challenge that expectation. She was also ill for much of her life and estranged from her father, so her love for Robert Browning represented freedom, healing, and salvation. This context adds meaning, showing love as redemptive and powerful.
conclusion
In conclusion, Browning presents love as spiritual, pure, and eternal. Through poetic devices like hyperbole, religious imagery, and metaphor, she explores love as something that lives in the soul and continues after death. The passionate tone and structured sonnet form highlight both the strength and stability of her emotions. Overall, Sonnet 43 shows that love is not just a feeling, but a way of living and believing.
