Unseen Poetry: A Student’s Guide to the Unknown – Part VIII
Sonnet 43 – How Do I Love Thee?
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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.
I love thee to the level of every day’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 the 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.
Poet Introduction: Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861) was a major Victorian poet, admired for her emotional intensity and moral conviction. She often explored themes of love, faith and the power of art. Sonnet 43 is from her collection Sonnets from the Portuguese (1850), a series of intimate poems addressed to her husband, the poet Robert Browning.
Summary
The poem is an outpouring of deep and spiritual love. The speaker lists the many ways she loves her partner — freely, purely, passionately and eternally. The poem moves from earthly affection to a divine, transcendent love that extends even beyond death.
Form and Structure
Written as a Petrarchan sonnet (14 lines of iambic pentameter) divided into an octave and sestet.The rhyme scheme (ABBA ABBA CDC DCD) mirrors traditional romantic poetry but expresses a modern, personal voice. Repetition of 'I love thee' reinforces the sincerity and intensity of emotion. The shift (volta) after line 8 moves from describing love in daily life to exploring its spiritual and eternal dimension.
Themes
Love as Infinite and Transcendent - Barrett Browning presents love as limitless — 'to the depth and breadth and height / My soul can reach.'
Spiritual and Eternal Love -The final line, 'I shall but love thee better after death,' links romantic and divine love, suggesting eternity.
Faith and Devotion - The poem compares love to faith — steady, pure and unconditional.
GCSE-Style Question
How does Elizabeth Barrett Browning present the power of love in Sonnet 43?
Support your ideas with evidence from the text. (8 marks)
Readers can attempt the question and email their responses to info@champslearning.co.uk for evaluation and feedback.
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