8 – Point plan – SONNET 43
Subject: This poem is a traditional sonnet in terms of length (14 lines) and follows a Petrarchan rhyme scheme. Sonnet 43 presents the idea of love as powerful and all-encompassing; her love enables her to reach otherwise impossible extremes. The poem is autobiographical: it refers to "my old griefs". (Browning had strong disagreements with her parents and was eventually disinherited.) The passion she applied to these "griefs" has been applied more positively to her love, demonstrating that she sees love as a positive, powerful and life-changing force.
Theme: Love, constancy, religious,
Imagery: The poet has used a spatial metaphor in the poem: Love is an immeasurable concept, yet the poet refers to real measurements – “depth and breadth and height”. The only concrete imagery used is the mention of “sun and candlelight”. Light is positive and guides us. The sun is powerful and gives life. Candlelight consoles us in times of darkness. This image sums up her lover.
Language: As well as the use of lists to imply the comprehension of her love, "feeling out of sight" tells us that the speaker sees her love not as something tangible but instinctive or even spiritual. Lists are used to show intensity as well – “depth and breadth and height”. This also creates a feeling of excitement, as though she keeps thinking of more ways to describe her love. The poem makes use of repetition: "I love thee" is used eight times and reflects the devotion the poet feels for her lover as well as the persistent nature of that love. Repetition is also used in a list on line 2 "depth and breadth and height" to suggest this poem is comprehensive; it aims to fully define the poet's love. Repetition here also suggests breathlessness and excitement. Love is compared to weighty, important concepts like "Being and ideal Grace", "Right" and "Praise". Browning's use of capital letters emphasises these words. The opening rhetorical question implies a conversation between lovers, and the exclamation mark at the end of the first line makes the poem seem light-hearted and playful. The speaker is responding enthusiastically to the challenge of listing the ways in which she experiences love. Lines become frequently broken up by punctuation by the end of the poem, another suggestion that the speaker is excited. "I love thee