I.

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

II. SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGESE
III. SONNET 43
I. ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING
(1806-1861)
- Was born on March 06, 1806
- An English poet of the Victorian era
- Daughter of a wealthy Jamaican
sugar-plantation owner
- The eldest of twelve children
- Was educated at home
• Girls were denied formal education
• Expected to marry, perform household and motherly duties
• No husband=> remain uneducated, take a position in
childcare (as a governess/ supporter)
I. ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING
(1806-1861)
- Enjoy reading poetry and novels in
their original languages
- Knew Latin and Greek, French,
Italian, Portuguese. Learn Hebrew
in order to read the Old Testament.
- Began writing as a young child
- Completed an epic poem The Battle
of Marathon at twelve.
I. ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING
(1806-1861)
 Aged 14 she became ill
with a lung complaint, aged
15 sustained a spinal injury,
on-going health problems.
 Her mother died in 1828
 Financial difficulties
=> Moved to Devonshire
(1832), London (1836)
- 1844, Poems was published. Robert wrote to Elizabeth
expressing his admiration.
- First met in May 1845,wrote 574 letters to each other.
- Married on September 12, 1846.
- Eloped to Italy.
- His father disinherited her- never talked again
- Died in Robert’s arms in 1861
II. SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGESE

- Published in 1850.
- 44 sonnets
 SUMMARY
- a woman who finds herself unexpectedly in love.
- overwhelmed by the differences
“a poor, tired, "calling to
wandering singer” some palace-floor”
Excitement
• She wanted people to think that they were
not her original work and that she had only
translated them.
• “My little Portuguese” – nickname that Robert
use for her in private
 III. SONNETS 43
The speaker asks how she loves her beloved and
tries to list the different ways in which she loves
him. Her love seems to be eternal and to exist
everywhere, and she intends to continue loving
him after her own death, if God lets her.
 How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

 How do I love thee? Let me count the ways
Thee: Robert Browning

How do I love thee?  compile reasons for her love

 to define her intense feelings
 the ways in which her love
can be expressed

Count  many types of love

 I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
- Using SPATIAL
METAPHOR to:
 Define the love
 Measure her love for her
husband.
 Showing her passionate
and intense love
 They are internal
rhyme and assonance
=> what she trying to
convey her love –
Hidden love
 My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and Ideal Grace.

• Using the words Soul, Being,

Grace=>intangible and
spiritual.
• Even If the Being = her
existence and God’s divine
help= Grace – might end –
her love will still sustain.
 more spiritual and higher
than anything.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
 I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

ANAPHORA

 Emphasize the strength of her love.

 She enforces that she loves him.
 Nothing that will make her change
her mind.
 Lines 5-6
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

METAPHOR
The everyday "need" for love may
be "quiet"
She loves him all the time , even when
there is nothing special happening
She just needs him in her life
 Her love is strong and passionate
 Her love will forever go on but with a sense of
mystery
 She can’t live without him
Sun ( in the day) Her love to him is at anytime both
Candle-light (at night) in day and at night

Everyday love is the second way of loving

that the speaker lists.
 Lines 7-8
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
Her free love as men who strive
for right.
Her pure love as those men who
similes turn from praise.
She loves him, without
freely expecting anything back.
 Her love : not be forced
 She chooses to love him by
men strive for Right;
her own free will
She is willing to fight for
him.
 purely There is no distrust and flaws
 No judgment in their love

 Her love is "pure" in the way that

they turn from Praise being modest and refusing
everyone else's admiration .
She loves without wanting any
reward or commendation.

freely is the third way

purely is the fourth way of loving that the speaker lists.
, .

! ,
!–
.
.
,
Major Themes

LOVE

ADMIRATION

IDENTITY
LOVE
• Love is a complicated, multi-
layered and multi-faceted
thing.
 ADMIRATION
• Love is closely linked with admiration.
 IDENTITY
• Defines herself entirely through the ways in which she
loves someone else.
• Use the metaphors - compares love to major aspects of her
life.