sonnet 29- i think of thee

• 'my thoughts do twine and bud/ About thee, as wild vines, about a tree'

  • extended metaphor, narrator is wild vine, her love is tree, she winds her thoughts around, emphasised by internal rhyme
• 'yet, o my palm-tree, be it understood/i will not have my thoughts instead of thee'

  • yet- volta
  • my- possessive
  • her thoughts not good substitute for having her actual lover with her in person
• 'renew thy presence; as a strong tree should'

  • sibilance represents rustling
  • caesura
  • metaphor
• 'rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk all bare'

  • plosive sound marks the conclusion on her argument- wants him to understand how much she enjoys being with him
• 'drop heavily down, - burst, shattered, everywhere!'

  • imperative and alliteration emphasise how much she wants him to take action and how much she thinks of him
  • set of three describes how vines are detached from the tree emphasises her excitement at seeing him again, contains plosive letters (t,b,d)
• 'I do not think of thee- I am too near thee'

  • she no longer needs to be lost within her own thoughts now he is physically with her and they're interdependent, contrasts first line
• Who is the author of Sonnet 29?

  Elizabeth Barrett Browning
• When was Elizabeth Barrett Browning born?

  1806
• When did Elizabeth Barrett Browning die?

  1861
• What health issues did Elizabeth Barrett Browning face?

  She was an invalid and bedridden
• What addiction did Elizabeth Barrett Browning have?

  An addiction to linum, a painkiller
• At what age was Elizabeth Barrett Browning published?

  15
• How was Elizabeth Barrett Browning viewed in her time?

  As a celebrity poet
• Who did Elizabeth Barrett Browning marry?

  Robert Browning
• What was the nature of Elizabeth and Robert's courtship?

  It was secret due to her father's control
• How many letters did Elizabeth and Robert exchange?

  500
• What did Robert Browning think of Elizabeth's poems?

  He considered them the best since Shakespeare
• Why did Elizabeth Barrett Browning publish her poems anonymously?

  To maintain anonymity and privacy
• What is the significance of the title "Sonnets from the Portuguese"?

  It was a nickname Robert used for Elizabeth
• What does the poem express about love?

  The overwhelming intensity of love
• What are the key themes explored in Sonnet 29?

  • Overwhelming intensity of love
  • Physical and sexual love
  • Spiritual love
  • Victorian context of women
  • Modern interpretations of the poem
• What is the structure of a Petrarchan sonnet?

  14 lines with an octave and sestet
• What does the octave in a Petrarchan sonnet do?

  It poses a problem or situation
• What does the sestet in a Petrarchan sonnet do?

  It resolves the problem posed in the octave
• What is the rhyme scheme of a Petrarchan sonnet?

  ABBA ABBA
• What is the significance of the volta in a sonnet?

  It indicates a shift in thought or argument
• How does Elizabeth Barrett Browning's use of form reflect her feelings?

  It shows her love is overwhelming and intense
• What does the conceit in the poem represent?

  Complex ideas about love and relationships
• What is the term used for an extended metaphor in poetry?

  Conceit
• How does the poem reflect Victorian attitudes towards women?

  It highlights the constraints on women's love
• How might modern interpretations of the poem differ from Victorian views?

  They may emphasize women's empowerment and choice
• What are the notable differences in Sonnet 29 compared to other Petrarchan sonnets?

  • Deliberate breaks in iambic pentameter
  • Volta straddles lines seven and eight
  • Use of archaic language
  • Reflects the theme of imperfect love
• What type of love does the poem represent?

  Physical and spiritual love
• How does Barrett Browning's religious background influence the poem?

  It includes biblical references throughout
• What does the conceit in the poem represent?

  The poet's thoughts as vines and her beloved as a tree
• Why is the imagery of nature effective in a love poem?

  It symbolizes natural, growing love
• How does the conceit fit both sexual and spiritual love?

  It shows love as all-consuming and intense
• What does the imagery of vines suggest about the poet's love?

  It grows quickly and intertwines with her beloved
• What does the word "twine" suggest in the context of the poem?

  It implies a sexual connotation
• How does the phrase "rustle thy bowels" contribute to the poem's meaning?

  It adds a layer of sexual imagery