sonnet 29 - i think of thee (Elizabeth Browning)

Context (browning)

• Eloped with Robert browning despite being disowned by her family for it as they disapproved

• Bedridden for a lot of her life so spent a lot of time writing

• One of 44 sonnets she wrote for Robert, originally not intending in publishing them until he convinced her to

• Was known to be very socially conscious and vocal about slavery and children rights

Structure (S29)

• Far more provocative than the usual chaste sonnets

• In the form of a Petrarchan sonnet that follows a traditional iambic pentameter like the traditional nature of her relationship, occasionally breaks free though to show unconventionality and passion

• Non conformist as sonnets were typically written by a man for a woman, same with Volta as it’s in the 5th line not the 8th

• All descriptions of her lover revolve around her showing how she can’t imagine them being independent

• Extended metaphor based in natural imagery

• Suggests that to experience love one must be vulnerable and willing to give oneself over entirely to passion—whether that means rejecting societal dictates of decorum and restraint, or simply one's own familiar ways of being

Themes (S29)

• Romance (positive)

• Obsession (ambiguous)

• Sexual and personal freedom

• Passion

• 1st person

• Nature

• Extended metaphor.

“I think of thee!”

• Used in the title to show how her love is a primary focus

• Contrasts to the final line

• exclamation mark for her enthusiasm and excitement regarding her lover

• → alt: feels defensive, a response to an accusation?

• Direct address establishes sense of personal Intimacy

• Old fashioned term so unconventional (context)

“As wild vines, about a tree”

• Her growing thoughts are feeding off of him, a simile

• Internal rhyme of “thee” and “tree” implies a sense of harmony and gives the poem a positive tone

• Consonance and assonance to create euphony, making lines seem musical and flowing

• Contrast first line which is perfect iambic pentameter (misleadingly making readers think it’s going to be a conventional sonnet), by adding extra stressed syllables in the second line

• Caesura represents vines, feeling more restrictive and suggesting a negative of her obsession

• Unrestrained and consuming her lover

• Metaphorical closeness emphasising their sexual and sensual intimacy

• Parasitic to him

“O my palm tree”

• Shows her dependency and possessiveness over her lover

• Has biblical connotations (Jesus), suggesting how she high in regard she holds him, worshipped him

• Also exotic so implies novelty, inevitability and timelessness of their relationship

• Trees are strong and stable, so she views him as reliable and admirable, especially palm trees

• A symbol of victory for romans

• Believed herself to be lucky for dating him

“Rustle thy boroughs”

• Auditory imagery has natural connotations so love is inevitable

• Can be taken literally as he forcefully shows his masculine affection for her

“Burst, shattered, everywhere!”

• Triadic structure marks the turning point / power of three

• Convey a sense of explosive escape from the confines of her consuming thoughts

• Direct plea to break free from the “vines”

• Language carries a sensual undertone and passionate, almost sexual yearning that goes against Victorian’s typical restraint

• Literal command for her lover or a metaphorical implosion caused by her enthusiasm

• Disrupts the poems rhythm, feeling unbalanced and portraying how disruptive the nature of her affection is

• Free of societal expectations now

“I do not think of thee- I am too near thee”

• Shows her affection as their love is resolved and they’re joined together once more

• Breaks free from her obsession and is free to love him

“Thoughts instead of thee”

• Vulnerable in a time where women were dismissed as feminine and silly

• Alliterative sibilance to create negative tone near the start

• Would choose lover over her own intellect (despite being a very intelligent woman)