Sonnet 43 From the Portuguese By Elizabeth Barrett

Sonnet #43 From the Portuguese By: Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett Browning 1806 -1861 • Came from a large wealthy family. • Had a set of poems titled “From the Portuguese” • She made them seem like translations because it was very rare for a women to write poetry back then. • She didn’t think she would be respected for writing her own poems, especially ones about love.

Sonnet #43, From the Portuguese 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 in ideal Grace. 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 with passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints!---I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life!---and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

Activity • Get in groups of 2 -3, try to find as many literary devices as you can. • What do you think theme of the poem is? www. petitelapgiraffe. com

Literary Devices: 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 in ideal Grace. 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 with passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints!---I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life!---and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

Theme This poem has been taken many different ways: • Some say this poem was written to her husband, Robert, to express her love for him. • Others say this was written to express the love she had for her Newfoundland dog. • It could also be seen as expressing endless love and loving someone even after death.

Modern Connections http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=_xxx. LXQDQ KI “All that I’m after is a life full of laughter, as long as I’m laughing with you. All that still matters is love ever after, after the life we’ve been through. ”

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