'Sonnet 31 - Thou comest! all is said without a word' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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XXXI
Thou comest! all is said without a word.
I sit beneath thy looks, as children do
In the noon-sun, with souls that tremble through
Their happy eyelids from an unaverred
Yet prodigal inward joy. Behold, I erred
In that last doubt! and yet I cannot rue
The sin most, but the occasion—that we two
Should for a moment stand unministered
By a mutual presence. Ah, keep near and close,
Thou dovelike help! and, when my fears would rise,
With thy broad heart serenely interpose:
Brood down with thy divine sufficiencies
These thoughts which tremble when bereft of those,
Like callow birds left desert to the skies.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 31 - Thou comest! all is said without a word
Sonnet 31 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a beautiful piece of poetry that captures the essence of love in a unique way. The poem is about the arrival of the speaker's lover, and how their presence is enough to convey everything that needs to be said. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of this sonnet to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.
Themes
The central theme of Sonnet 31 is love and the power of presence. The speaker expresses the idea that the arrival of their lover is enough to convey all that needs to be said between them. This theme is conveyed through the use of imagery and metaphorical language that highlights the intensity of the emotions being felt.
The poem also explores the theme of time, with the speaker expressing their desire to freeze the moment and hold onto the present. This theme is evident in the lines, "Oh, stay! -- Oh, haste not! -- And, for joy or fear, / Place not thy hand upon the unveiled veil."
Another theme that can be found in this sonnet is the idea of transformation. The speaker uses the metaphor of the sun rising to describe their lover's arrival, suggesting a sense of renewal and change. This theme is evident in the lines, "Thou comest, and the sun doth rise, / And all the stars the veil retire."
Structure
Sonnet 31 follows the traditional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet, with fourteen lines and a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is divided into three quatrains and a concluding couplet, with each quatrain exploring a different aspect of the speaker's emotions.
The first quatrain sets the scene, with the speaker expressing their excitement at their lover's arrival. The second quatrain focuses on the speaker's desire to hold onto the present, while the third quatrain explores the concept of transformation through the metaphor of the rising sun. The concluding couplet summarises the speaker's emotions and the overarching theme of the poem.
Language
The language used in Sonnet 31 is highly metaphorical, with the speaker using vivid imagery to convey their emotions. The poem is full of sensory details, with the speaker describing the sights and sounds of their surroundings to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind.
The metaphor of the veil is used throughout the poem, with the speaker referencing the veil between life and death. This metaphor is used to convey the idea that the present moment is precious and that the speaker wants to hold onto it for as long as possible.
The use of the rising sun as a metaphor for transformation is also highly effective, with the speaker suggesting that their lover's arrival has the power to bring about change and renewal.
Interpretation
Sonnet 31 is a beautiful poem that captures the intensity of love in a unique and powerful way. The central theme of the poem is the power of presence, with the speaker expressing the idea that their lover's arrival is enough to convey everything that needs to be said between them.
The use of metaphorical language and vivid imagery is highly effective, creating a sense of intensity and emotion that is almost palpable. The metaphor of the veil is particularly powerful, suggesting that the present moment is precious and that the speaker wants to hold onto it for as long as possible.
The theme of transformation is also highly significant, with the rising sun serving as a metaphor for change and renewal. The poem suggests that the arrival of the speaker's lover has the power to transform their world and bring about a sense of renewal and hope.
Overall, Sonnet 31 is a beautiful and powerful poem that captures the essence of love in a unique and memorable way. It is a testament to Elizabeth Barrett Browning's skill as a poet and her ability to convey complex emotions through her writing.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 31 - Thou comest! all is said without a word, written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. This sonnet is a beautiful expression of love and the emotions that come with it. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and literary devices used in this poem, as well as the historical context in which it was written.
Firstly, let us take a look at the poem itself. The sonnet begins with the line "Thou comest! all is said without a word." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it expresses the idea that the presence of the beloved is enough to convey all the emotions that the speaker is feeling. The next few lines describe the physical appearance of the beloved, with the speaker noting that their "eyes are homes of silent prayer" and that their "voice is as a fountain of sweet waters." These lines are a beautiful description of the beloved, and they help to create a vivid image in the reader's mind.
The next few lines of the poem are where the emotions really start to come through. The speaker notes that the beloved's presence is enough to "make the whole world bright" and that they "bring the gift of gladness to my sight." These lines express the joy and happiness that the speaker feels when they are with their beloved. The following lines continue in this vein, with the speaker noting that the beloved's presence is like "the sunshine on the hills" and that they "bring the summer and the flowers." These lines are a beautiful expression of the power of love to bring joy and happiness into our lives.
The final few lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful. The speaker notes that the beloved's presence is enough to "make me feel the present God." This line expresses the idea that love is a spiritual experience, and that the presence of the beloved can bring us closer to the divine. The final line of the poem, "Thou art my life, my love, my heart, my soul," is a beautiful expression of the depth of the speaker's feelings for their beloved.
Now that we have looked at the poem itself, let us explore some of the themes and literary devices used in Sonnet 31. One of the main themes of this poem is the power of love to bring joy and happiness into our lives. The speaker notes that the beloved's presence is like "the sunshine on the hills" and that they "bring the summer and the flowers." These lines express the idea that love can bring beauty and joy into our lives, and that it has the power to transform our world.
Another theme of this poem is the spiritual nature of love. The speaker notes that the beloved's presence is enough to "make me feel the present God." This line expresses the idea that love is not just a physical or emotional experience, but a spiritual one as well. It suggests that love can bring us closer to the divine, and that it has the power to connect us to something greater than ourselves.
In terms of literary devices, Sonnet 31 makes use of several techniques to create its powerful emotional impact. One of the most notable of these is imagery. The poem is full of vivid descriptions of the beloved, such as "eyes are homes of silent prayer" and "voice is as a fountain of sweet waters." These images help to create a vivid picture of the beloved in the reader's mind, and they contribute to the emotional impact of the poem.
Another literary device used in this poem is repetition. The phrase "Thou comest!" is repeated several times throughout the poem, and this repetition helps to create a sense of excitement and anticipation. It also emphasizes the importance of the beloved's presence to the speaker.
Finally, Sonnet 31 makes use of metaphor to express the speaker's feelings. The beloved is compared to "the sunshine on the hills" and "the fountain of sweet waters." These metaphors help to create a sense of beauty and joy, and they contribute to the overall emotional impact of the poem.
In terms of historical context, Sonnet 31 was written in the mid-19th century, during the Victorian era. This was a time when love and romance were highly valued, and when poetry was a popular form of expression. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a prominent poet of this era, and her work was highly regarded for its emotional depth and beauty.
In conclusion, Sonnet 31 - Thou comest! all is said without a word is a beautiful expression of love and the emotions that come with it. The poem explores themes of joy, beauty, and spirituality, and it makes use of powerful imagery, repetition, and metaphor to create its emotional impact. Written during the Victorian era, this poem remains a classic example of the power of poetry to express the deepest emotions of the human heart.
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