How Do I Love Thee Summary

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)” was published in 1850 in her collection of 44 interrelated sonnets titled “Sonnets from the Portuguese”. This collection was dedicated to her husband, fellow poet Robert Browning. The poem was written around 1845–1846. It is one of the most famous and recognizable poems in the English language.

“How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a passionate declaration of love from the speaker to her beloved. The poem begins with the speaker asking a rhetorical question about the ways she loves her beloved. She then proceeds to answer this question by listing the various ways in which she loves him.

In the first four lines, the speaker expresses her love in spatial terms, stating that she loves her beloved to the “depth and breadth and height” that her soul can reach. This suggests that her love is not confined to the physical realm but extends into the spiritual realm. In the next two lines, she declares that she loves him to the level of everyday’s most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. This implies that her love is constant and unwavering, present in both the light of day and the darkness of night.

In lines seven and eight, the speaker declares that she loves her beloved freely and purely. Her love is not coerced or tainted by ulterior motives, but is as pure as one’s turn from praise. In the next four lines, she loves him with the passion put to use in her old griefs, and with her childhood’s faith. This suggests that her love is both passionate and innocent, reminiscent of a child’s unshakeable faith.

The speaker concludes the poem by expressing her hope that, if God chooses, she will continue to love her beloved even after death. This underscores the eternal nature of her love. Throughout the poem, the speaker uses various poetic devices such as metaphor, simile, and anaphora to convey the depth and intensity of her love. The poem is a celebration of love that is unconditional, redemptive, pure, selfless, and eternal; it transcends the boundaries of time. It is love in the ideal, uncontested by the realities of the daily routine of relationships and the inevitable imperfections in such a relationship exposed over time.

Key Points

Author: Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a renowned English poet of the Victorian era. She was one of the most prominent poets of her time and her work was widely read both in England and in the United States. Browning’s work was characterized by her use of classical and literary references, her exploration of women’s roles in society, and her innovative use of the sonnet form. Her poetry often dealt with themes of love, loss, and spirituality.

Form (Rhyme Scheme): “How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)” is a Petrarchan sonnet, also known as the Italian sonnet. This form of sonnet is divided into an octave (the first eight lines) and a sestet (the last six lines). The octave typically presents a problem or poses a question, while the sestet provides a resolution or answer. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABBAABBA CDCDCD. This structured form allows the poet to explore complex ideas and emotions in a concise manner.

Speaker: The speaker of the poem is traditionally interpreted as Elizabeth Barrett Browning herself, expressing her deep and profound love for her husband, the poet Robert Browning. However, the speaker and addressee are never identified by name in the poem. This allows the poem to be read as a universal expression of love, applicable to anyone who has experienced deep affection.

Setting: The setting of the poem is not explicitly stated. However, given that the poem is a personal expression of love, it can be inferred that the setting is intimate and personal, likely within the speaker’s own thoughts and emotions. The poem transcends physical location and delves into the realm of emotions and feelings.

Theme: The primary theme of the poem is love. The speaker explores the depth, breadth, and intensity of her love for her beloved. Other themes include devotion, relationships, and the eternal nature of love. The poem explores the idea of love as a powerful and all-encompassing emotion.

Plot: The poem does not have a traditional plot as it is a sonnet, a form of poetry that typically explores a single theme or emotion rather than telling a story. The speaker of the poem is expressing her deep and abiding love for her beloved, enumerating the various ways in which she loves him. The poem unfolds as a list of declarations of love, each one building on the previous one to create a comprehensive portrait of a love that is deep, enduring, and transcendent.

Tone: The tone of the poem is impassioned. The speaker’s deep love for her beloved is expressed with intensity and fervor. The poem is characterized by a tone best described as impassioned, derived from the way the speaker frames it with their opening question: “How do I love thee?” (line 1).

Style: The style of the poem is characterized by its use of the Petrarchan sonnet form, iambic pentameter, and anaphora. The speaker uses specific word choice and figurative language to express the depth and intensity of her love. The poem is also characterized by its hypnotic repetition.

Message: The message of the poem is the profound expression of unconditional and eternal love. Through her carefully chosen words, Browning captures the essence of a love that surpasses boundaries and endures beyond mortality. The speaker’s love for her beloved is presented as boundless and all-encompassing. The poem serves as a testament to the power of love and its ability to transcend physical and temporal boundaries.

Victorian sonnets and their structure

Victorian sonnets were a popular and significant poetic form during the Victorian era. The sonnet form, which was most closely associated with the literary cultures of medieval Italy (Petrarch in particular) and the English Renaissance (Philip Sidney and William Shakespeare especially), enjoyed a rebirth in the late Romantic period. This rebirth was championed and rejuvenated by poets like William Wordsworth and Charlotte Smith.

With the landmark publication of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “Sonnets from the Portuguese” in 1850, the sonnet vogue was given new impetus in the Victorian period and became the site of some of the period’s most important poetic innovations. Chief among these was the revitalization of the Renaissance sonnet sequence, experimental examples of which abounded in the latter half of the 19th century.

A sonnet is a poem that follows a specific structure. It is typically 14 lines long with an octave (8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines), and it uses a specific rhyme scheme. The octave typically introduces a problem or question, while the sestet provides the answer or resolution.

There are two main types of sonnets: Petrarchan (Italian) and Shakespearean (English). Petrarchan sonnets have a rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA in the octave and can vary in the sestet, but often use CDECDE or CDCDCD. Shakespearean sonnets, on the other hand, are composed of three quatrains and a final couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG.

During the Victorian era, the Petrarchan sonnet form and rhyme scheme (octave plus sestet) were favored over the Shakespearean one (three quatrains plus a couplet). The sonnet form was available to both amateur and professional writers alike, and its susceptibility to the expression and treatment of miscellaneous subjects led to concerted efforts to codify the sonnet.

By the end of the century, however, sonnet fatigue had begun to set in, and the form fell into artistic and critical disfavor. But since the 1990s, critics and scholars have been documenting the revival and modification of the sonnet genre in the Victorian era. This development was stimulated by the burgeoning attention given by feminist critics from the 1970s to the groundbreaking adaptation of the Renaissance love sonnet sequence by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Early Life: Elizabeth Barrett Browning was born on March 6, 1806, in Coxhoe Hall, Durham, England. She was the eldest of twelve children in her family. Her father, Edward Barrett Moulton Barrett, chose to raise his family in rural England, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Elizabeth’s mother, Mary Graham Clarke, was a wealthy heiress, which allowed the family to live comfortably. Elizabeth’s childhood was filled with exploration of the countryside and immersion in literature, which sparked her love for poetry.

Education: Elizabeth was educated at home, which was typical for girls of her social standing during this time period. She was an avid reader and showed an early interest in literature, particularly poetry. She started writing poetry at the age of eleven, and her mother compiled these early works into collections, fostering Elizabeth’s love for writing.

Health: Elizabeth’s health was fragile from a young age. At the age of 15, she suffered a spinal injury, which caused her to be bedridden for a significant period of time. This health crisis marked the beginning of lifelong health issues, which often affected her ability to travel and maintain a regular social life. Despite her health challenges, Elizabeth continued to write and publish her work.

Career: Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s career as a poet began early. She published her first collection of poems, “The Battle of Marathon,” at the age of 14. Her work was well-received, and she became a respected figure in London’s literary circles. Her second volume of poetry, “Poems,” published in 1844, included some of her most famous works and solidified her reputation as a leading poet of her time.

Marriage: Elizabeth met fellow poet Robert Browning in 1845, and they quickly fell in love. Their courtship was carried out in secret due to Elizabeth’s father’s disapproval of marriage for his children. They eloped in 1846 and settled in Italy, where they lived for the rest of their lives. Their marriage was a happy one, and they often collaborated on literary projects.

Later Life: Elizabeth and Robert had one son, Robert Wiedeman Barrett Browning, affectionately known as “Pen.” Despite her ongoing health issues, Elizabeth continued to write and publish her work. She became involved in the Italian independence movement and the abolitionist movement, and her work often reflected her political beliefs.

Works: Elizabeth Barrett Browning is best known for her collection of sonnets, “Sonnets from the Portuguese,” which includes the famous sonnet “How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43).” Her other notable works include “Aurora Leigh,” “The Cry of the Children,” and “The Runaway Slave at Pilgrim’s Point.”

Death: Elizabeth Barrett Browning died on June 29, 1861, in Florence, Italy. Her death was a great loss to the literary world, and she is remembered as one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era.

Legacy: Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s influence on literature extends beyond her lifetime. Her exploration of women’s roles in society, her innovative use of the sonnet form, and her powerful expressions of love and social justice continue to resonate with readers today. Her work has been studied and celebrated by scholars, and she remains a significant figure in the history of English literature.

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