'Sonnet 34 - With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
XXXIV
With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee
As those, when thou shalt call me by my name—
Lo, the vain promise! is the same, the same,
Perplexed and ruffled by life's strategy?
When called before, I told how hastily
I dropped my flowers or brake off from a game,
To run and answer with the smile that came
At play last moment, and went on with me
Through my obedience. When I answer now,
I drop a grave thought, break from solitude;
Yet still my heart goes to thee—ponder how—
Not as to a single good, but all my good!
Lay thy hand on it, best one, and allow
That no child's foot could run fast as this blood.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 34 - With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Sonnets are wondrous things, aren't they? They are short, sweet, and can pack a punch in just a few lines. Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "Sonnet 34 - With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee" is no exception. It is a beautiful piece of literature that portrays the speaker's unwavering love and her desire to be with her beloved forever. But there's more to it than just that. Let's delve deeper into the poem and see what makes it so special.
Structure and Form
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the poem, let's take a look at its structure and form. "Sonnet 34" is written in the Petrarchan sonnet form, which is composed of an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). The rhyme scheme is ABBA ABBA CDE CDE, with the octave presenting the problem and the sestet offering a solution or resolution.
In "Sonnet 34," the octave sets up a scene where the speaker is confessing her love to her beloved. She tells him that she'll answer him with the same heart that he spoke with. The sestet, on the other hand, offers a resolution to the problem that the speaker faces. She states that even though she might not be able to express her love in words, she'll show it through her actions.
Interpretation
Now that we've got the formalities out of the way, let's dive into the interpretation. The speaker in "Sonnet 34" is undoubtedly a woman who is deeply in love with her beloved. Throughout the poem, she communicates her love using various metaphors and imagery. For example, in the first line, she says, "With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee," which showcases her unwavering love for her beloved.
The speaker also talks about how she wishes to be with her beloved forever. In the fourth line, she says, "I love thee to the level of every day's / Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light," which shows that her love is not just based on grand gestures but also on the small, everyday things.
Another interesting aspect of the poem is the speaker's use of imagery. In the octave, she uses the metaphor of a "river" to describe her love. She says, "If thou must love me, let it be for nought / Except for love's sake only. / Do not say 'I love her for her smile— / Her look—her way of speaking gently,—for / A trick of thought that falls in well with mine, / And certes brought a sense of pleasant ease;—" The river metaphor is significant because it shows that the speaker's love is constant and unchanging, just like a river that flows steadily.
In the sestet, the speaker continues to use imagery to describe her love. She says that even though she might not be able to express her love in words, she'll show it through her actions. She uses the metaphor of a "wreath" to describe her love. She says, "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." The wreath metaphor is significant because it shows that the speaker's love is not just a passing fancy but something that she's willing to work hard for and commit to.
Themes
Now that we've discussed the interpretation, let's look at the overarching themes of the poem. One of the main themes of "Sonnet 34" is the power of love. The speaker's love for her beloved is so strong that she's willing to do anything to be with him. She communicates this through her metaphors and imagery, which emphasize the constant and unchanging nature of her love.
Another theme of the poem is the importance of actions over words. The speaker acknowledges that she might not be able to express her love in words, but she'll show it through her actions. This theme is relevant today because we live in a world where words are often used to manipulate or deceive, and actions speak louder than words.
Finally, "Sonnet 34" is a poem about commitment and faithfulness. The speaker's love for her beloved is not just a passing fancy but something that she's willing to work hard for and commit to. This theme is relevant today because commitment and faithfulness are becoming increasingly rare in our fast-paced, disposable culture.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Sonnet 34 - With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee" is a beautiful poem that explores the power of love, the importance of actions over words, and the value of commitment and faithfulness. The speaker's use of metaphors and imagery is significant because it emphasizes the constant and unchanging nature of her love. This poem is a testament to the enduring power of love and its ability to transcend time and space.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 34 - With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee, written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, is a classic poem that captures the essence of true love and devotion. In this sonnet, the speaker expresses her unwavering love for her beloved and promises to remain faithful to him, even in the face of adversity.
The poem begins with the speaker declaring that she will answer her beloved with the same heart that he has shown her. This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it establishes the speaker's commitment to her beloved and her desire to reciprocate the love that he has shown her.
The second line of the poem, "Nay, in all likelihood, I shall do so," further emphasizes the speaker's determination to remain faithful to her beloved. The use of the word "likelihood" suggests that there may be obstacles or challenges that could potentially test the strength of their love, but the speaker is confident that she will overcome them.
The third and fourth lines of the poem, "I never loved less, though less the show appear'd," reveal the speaker's true feelings for her beloved. Despite any outward appearances or displays of affection, the speaker's love for her beloved remains constant and unwavering.
The fifth and sixth lines of the poem, "That love is merchandized whose rich esteeming / The owner's tongue doth publish everywhere," criticize the idea that love can be bought or sold. The speaker suggests that true love cannot be measured by material possessions or public displays of affection, but rather by the depth of one's feelings and the sincerity of one's actions.
The seventh and eighth lines of the poem, "Our love was new, and then but in the spring, / When I was wont to greet it with my lays," describe the early stages of the speaker's relationship with her beloved. The use of the word "spring" suggests a sense of freshness and newness, while the phrase "greet it with my lays" implies that the speaker expressed her love through poetry or song.
The ninth and tenth lines of the poem, "As Philomel in summer's front doth sing, / And stops her pipe in growth of riper days," compare the speaker's early expressions of love to the song of the nightingale, which is often associated with love and romance. The phrase "stops her pipe in growth of riper days" suggests that the speaker's expressions of love have matured and evolved over time.
The eleventh and twelfth lines of the poem, "Not that the summer is less pleasant now / Than when her mournful hymns did hush the night," acknowledge that the speaker's love for her beloved has not diminished over time. The use of the word "mournful" suggests that the speaker's early expressions of love may have been tinged with sadness or longing, but the speaker now finds joy and happiness in her love for her beloved.
The thirteenth and fourteenth lines of the poem, "But that wild music burthens every bough, / And sweets grown common lose their dear delight," suggest that the intensity of the speaker's early expressions of love may have become overwhelming or burdensome. The phrase "sweets grown common lose their dear delight" implies that familiarity may have dulled the initial excitement of the speaker's love for her beloved.
The final two lines of the poem, "Therefore like her, I sometime hold my tongue, / Because I would not dull you with my song," reveal the speaker's reluctance to express her love too openly or frequently. The use of the phrase "hold my tongue" suggests that the speaker may sometimes struggle to find the right words to express her feelings, while the phrase "dull you with my song" implies that the speaker does not want to overwhelm her beloved with too much affection.
Overall, Sonnet 34 - With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee is a beautiful and heartfelt expression of true love and devotion. Through her use of vivid imagery and poetic language, Elizabeth Barrett Browning captures the essence of a deep and abiding love that endures over time. The poem is a testament to the power of love to overcome obstacles and challenges, and to the enduring strength of the human heart.
Editor Recommended Sites
Startup News: Valuation and acquisitions of the most popular startupsFantasy Games - Highest Rated Fantasy RPGs & Top Ranking Fantasy Games: The highest rated best top fantasy games
Crypto Staking - Highest yielding coins & Staking comparison and options: Find the highest yielding coin staking available for alts, from only the best coins
Learn Redshift: Learn the redshift datawarehouse by AWS, course by an Ex-Google engineer
Cloud Architect Certification - AWS Cloud Architect & GCP Cloud Architect: Prepare for the AWS, Azure, GCI Architect Cert & Courses for Cloud Architects
Recommended Similar Analysis
Glory Of Women by Siegfried Sassoon analysisMr Bleaney by Philip Larkin analysis
Lily , The by William Blake analysis
Ode On A Grecian Urn by John Keats analysis
Never Seek to Tell thy Love by William Blake analysis
Parliament Of Fowles, The by Geoffrey Chaucer analysis
I Speak Not by George Gordon, Lord Byron analysis
The Barrel-Organ by Alfred Noyes analysis
I never saw a Moor by Emily Dickinson analysis
The Song of the Women by Rudyard Kipling analysis