'Sonnet 09 - Can it be right to give what I can give?' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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Can it be right to give what I can give?
To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears
As salt as mine, and hear the sighing years
Re-sighing on my lips renunciative
Through those infrequent smiles which fail to live
For all thy adjurations? O my fears,
That this can scarce be right! We are not peers,
So to be lovers; and I own, and grieve,
That givers of such gifts as mine are, must
Be counted with the ungenerous. Out, alas!
I will not soil thy purple with my dust,
Nor breathe my poison on thy Venice-glass,
Nor give thee any love—which were unjust.
Beloved, I only love thee! let it pass.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 09 - Can it be right to give what I can give?
Sonnet 09, also known as "Can it be right to give what I can give?", was written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, a prominent Victorian poet. This sonnet is part of her collection "Sonnets from the Portuguese", which was published in 1850.
The sonnet is a love poem addressed to her husband, Robert Browning. It explores the themes of love, sacrifice, and the importance of giving. In this literary criticism, we will delve deeper into the poem and its interpretation.
Structure and Form
Sonnet 09 follows the traditional Shakespearean sonnet structure, consisting of three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which means each line has ten syllables and follows an unstressed-stressed pattern.
The poem is written in a conversational tone, as if the speaker is addressing someone directly. The use of rhetorical questions creates a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the reader.
Interpretation
The sonnet begins with the speaker questioning whether it is right to give what she can give to her beloved. This sets the tone for the poem and introduces the theme of sacrifice. The speaker acknowledges that she has the ability to give everything to her beloved, but questions whether it is morally right to do so.
In the second quatrain, the speaker compares her love to a "cunning elf" that takes all her possessions and leaves her with nothing. This metaphor emphasizes the intensity of her love and its ability to consume her completely. The speaker suggests that her love is so powerful that she is willing to sacrifice everything for it.
The third quatrain explores the consequences of the speaker's love. She questions whether her beloved will be able to bear the weight of her love and whether it will ultimately destroy him. This reflects the speaker's fear and uncertainty about the future of their relationship.
The final couplet offers a resolution to the speaker's dilemma. She realizes that her love is a gift that she has to give, regardless of the consequences. The use of the word "freely" emphasizes the importance of giving without reservation or expectation of reward.
Literary Devices
The poem employs several literary devices to convey its message. The use of metaphor, for example, helps to create a vivid image of the speaker's love. The metaphor of the "cunning elf" emphasizes the consuming nature of love and its ability to take everything away from the speaker.
The use of rhetorical questions also adds depth to the poem. By asking questions, the speaker invites the reader to think about the themes of the poem and consider their own experiences with love and sacrifice.
The poem also employs enjambment, which means that the lines do not end with the end of a sentence or clause. This creates a sense of flow and continuity, emphasizing the intensity of the speaker's emotions.
Themes
The poem explores several themes, including love, sacrifice, and the importance of giving. The speaker's love for her beloved is consuming and all-consuming, leading her to question whether it is right to give everything away.
The theme of sacrifice is also prominent in the poem. The speaker is willing to sacrifice everything for her love, but is uncertain about the consequences of her actions. This reflects the idea that love can lead to both joy and pain, and that sacrifice is often necessary to maintain relationships.
Finally, the poem emphasizes the importance of giving freely and without reservation. The speaker comes to the realization that her love is a gift that she has to give, regardless of the consequences. This reflects the idea that true love is selfless and requires giving without expectation of reward.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sonnet 09 is a powerful love poem that explores the themes of sacrifice, giving, and the consuming nature of love. The use of metaphor, rhetorical questions, and enjambment helps to create a vivid image of the speaker's emotions, while the traditional Shakespearean sonnet structure adds depth and complexity to the poem.
Overall, Sonnet 09 is a timeless piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today. Its themes and messages are universal, and its message of selfless love and sacrifice is still relevant in the modern world.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 09 - Can it be right to give what I can give? is a classic poem written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era. This sonnet is a reflection on the nature of love and the sacrifices that one must make in order to truly love someone. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of this poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.
The poem begins with the speaker questioning whether it is right to give what she can give to her beloved. She wonders if her love is enough, or if she should be giving more. This is a common theme in love poetry, as many poets struggle with the idea of whether their love is enough to satisfy their beloved. The speaker is questioning whether her love is sufficient, and whether she is doing enough to show her love.
The second quatrain of the poem explores the idea of sacrifice. The speaker wonders if she should give up more of herself in order to show her love. She questions whether she should give up her own happiness, her own desires, and even her own life in order to prove her love. This is a powerful statement, as it shows the depth of the speaker's love and the lengths she is willing to go to prove it.
The third quatrain of the poem explores the idea of reciprocity in love. The speaker wonders if her beloved is willing to make the same sacrifices for her. She questions whether her beloved is willing to give up his own happiness, desires, and even his own life for her. This is an important theme in love poetry, as it shows that love is not just about one person giving to another, but about both people giving to each other.
The final couplet of the poem is a powerful statement of the speaker's love. She declares that she will give everything she has to her beloved, even if it means giving up her own life. This is a powerful statement of love, as it shows that the speaker is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for her beloved.
The structure of the poem is a traditional Shakespearean sonnet, with three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which is a common rhyme scheme in sonnets. The use of iambic pentameter also adds to the traditional structure of the poem. The use of a traditional sonnet structure adds to the overall theme of the poem, as it shows that the speaker is struggling with a common theme in love poetry.
The language of the poem is powerful and emotive. The use of rhetorical questions in the first quatrain adds to the overall tone of the poem, as it shows that the speaker is questioning her own love. The use of repetition in the second quatrain adds to the power of the poem, as it shows the depth of the speaker's love. The use of imagery in the third quatrain adds to the overall theme of the poem, as it shows the speaker's desire for reciprocity in love. The final couplet is a powerful statement of love, as it shows the speaker's willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice for her beloved.
In conclusion, Sonnet 09 - Can it be right to give what I can give? is a powerful poem that explores the themes of love, sacrifice, and reciprocity. The structure and language of the poem add to the overall theme, as it shows the speaker struggling with a common theme in love poetry. This poem is a testament to the power of love and the lengths that people will go to prove their love. Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 09 is a classic poem that will continue to inspire readers for generations to come.
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