Sonnet 29

Question 1

Written in

Answer 1

1846

Question 2

Written by

Answer 2

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Question 3

About

Answer 3

Intense longing for her lover, Robert Browning

Question 4

Name of form

Answer 4

Petrarchan sonnet

Question 5

Layout

Answer 5

Octave and sestet

Question 6

Volta

Answer 6

Line 7 (usually line 9)

Question 7

Why is this form used

Answer 7

To restrain her intense thoughts

Question 8

What is this form typical in

Answer 8

Love poems

Question 9

What creates the caesura

Answer 9

Exclamation mark - emphasises longing

Question 10

Why is the volta early

Answer 10

Highlights impatience

Question 11

What is the rhythm

Answer 11

Iambic pentameter

Question 12

Any exceptions to rhythm

Answer 12

‘Thee’ is used three times as an 11th syllable - she is so obsessed she can’t control mentioning him, emphasised by rhymes of ‘hear’ ‘near’ ‘insphere’ before each ‘thee’

Question 13

Significance of rhythm

Answer 13

Iambic pentameters were outdated at the time so her lover must have thought the poem was excellent to have encouraged her to publish it

Question 14

Rhyme scheme

Answer 14

ABBAABBACBCBCB

Question 15

Significance of rhyme

Answer 15

B rhyme runs throughout, four are ‘thee’ - she is obsessed with him

Question 16

Imagery is mainly

Answer 16

Natural

Question 17

Extended metaphor

Answer 17

Her thoughts are ‘wild vines’, her lover is a ‘strong tree’

Question 18

How are the ‘wild vines’ described

Answer 18

‘straggling’ - her thoughts are inferior to his presence like vines are inferior to a tree

Question 19

Sibilance quote

Answer 19

‘As a strong tree should’

Question 20

Effect of sibilance

Answer 20

Reflects leaves rustling - emphasising extended metaphor

Question 21

What type of tree is he compared to

Answer 21

‘palm-tree’

Question 22

Effect of the particular tree

Answer 22

Palm trees commonly found at oases - he is her oasis: her reason to keep believing despite the struggle she has controlling her ‘wild’ emotions

Question 23

‘Broad’

Answer 23

Emphasises intensity of the love

Question 24

‘Heavily’

Answer 24

Leaves are light - the weight of her thoughts highlights her obsession

Question 25

'Twine'

Answer 25

He is part of her now and she is reliant on him

Question 26

'I do not think of thee'

Answer 26

Her thoughts cannot compare to his presence - she is 'too near'

Question 27

Structure highights

Answer 27

Begins and ends with a line about 'thee' - but there is a difference between thinking about him and being with him

Question 28

"Because"

Answer 28

Plosive sound highlights the conclusion of her argument that she loves being with him

Question 29

Imperative examples

Answer 29

"Renew", "rustle" - alliteration emphasises how she wants him to act

Question 30

List of three

Answer 30

"- burst, shattered everywhere" - so many ways of expressing how his presence replaces her thoughts, emphasising excitement - helped by caesura creating dramatic effect

Question 31

'-'

Answer 31

Breathlessness

Question 32

'!'

Answer 32

Conveys the joy she feels talking about her lover

Question 33

'Nought to see'

Answer 33

She is oblivious to any imperfections her lover may have

Question 34

'Thee'

Answer 34

refers specifically to one person - he is her true love, no-one else will do; rhymes 'thee' with 'thee' conveying obsession

Question 35

'Breathe new air'

Answer 35

Could refer to her lover making her forget about the intense head and spinal pain she suffered from

Question 36

'Set thy trunk all bare'

Answer 36

Possible erotic reference which goes against common expectations of women at the time - perhaps due to her Romantic views of expressing emotion - highlights the strength of her longing for him