'Sonnet 05 - I lift my heavy heart up solemnly' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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Sonnets from the Portuguese1850VI lift my heavy heart up solemnly,
As once Electra her sepulchral urn,
And, looking in thine eyes, I overturn
The ashes at thy feet. Behold and see
What a great heap of grief lay hid in me,
And how the red wild sparkles dimly burn
Through the ashen grayness. If thy foot in scorn
Could tread them out to darkness utterly,
It might be well perhaps. But if instead
Thou wait beside me for the wind to blow
The gray dust up, . . . those laurels on thine head,
O my Beloved, will not shield thee so,
That none of all the fires shall scorch and shred
The hair beneath. Stand farther off then! go.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 05 - I lift my heavy heart up solemnly: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era, wrote this sonnet, "I lift my heavy heart up solemnly," as part of her renowned collection Sonnets from the Portuguese. In this collection, she chronicles her love story with her husband, Robert Browning, whom she affectionately calls "her beloved." This sonnet, in particular, is a reflection of her deep, intense love and the fear of losing it.
Form and Structure
The sonnet follows the traditional Italian or Petrarchan form, consisting of an octave and a sestet, with a rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA CDECDE. The octave presents the conflict or problem, while the sestet provides the resolution or the answer. Browning deviates from the traditional form by using enjambment, breaking the lines between the octave and sestet, and within the lines themselves. This technique creates a sense of urgency and emphasizes the emotional turmoil that the speaker is experiencing.
Literary Devices
Browning employs several literary devices in this poem to convey her emotions effectively. The most notable one is the extended metaphor of the "heavy heart." The speaker is burdened by the weight of her love, which is so intense that it feels like it could crush her. The metaphorical image of the heart being lifted up solemnly signifies the speaker's determination and courage to bear this weight. The phrase "my beloved," repeated twice in the poem, emphasizes the intensity of the speaker's love, and the possessive pronoun "my" conveys a sense of ownership and protection.
Another literary device that Browning uses is alliteration, the repetition of the same consonant sounds, to create a musical effect. For example, in the line "Slow through the shades of my dim bower," the repetition of the "s" sound creates a soft, soothing effect, which is in contrast to the heavy, oppressive weight of the heart.
Themes and Interpretation
The central theme of this sonnet is love, specifically the intensity and fragility of love. The speaker's love for her beloved is so powerful that it feels like a burden, and she fears losing it. The opening line, "I lift my heavy heart up solemnly," sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker struggles to bear the weight of her love. The lines, "And as it springs from grief and pain,/ So let it mount in joy again," suggest that the intense emotions of love, which originate from pain and suffering, can also bring joy and happiness.
The sonnet also highlights the role of determination and courage in love. The speaker's determination to lift her heavy heart up solemnly and to bear the weight of her love is a testament to her strength and resilience. The phrase, "lest while I stand beneath it weighed," implies the danger of being crushed by the weight of love, but the speaker's courage and determination enable her to overcome this danger.
In addition, the sonnet can be interpreted as a reflection of Browning's personal experience and her relationship with Robert Browning. Her intense love for him, which was not initially reciprocated by him, caused her much pain and suffering. However, her determination and courage enabled her to persevere, and eventually, they married and had a happy life together.
Conclusion
"I lift my heavy heart up solemnly" is a beautiful and poignant sonnet that captures the intensity and fragility of love. Browning's use of extended metaphor, alliteration, and enjambment create a sense of urgency and emphasize the emotional turmoil that the speaker is experiencing. The central theme of love and the role of determination and courage in love are explored in this sonnet. This poem is not only a masterpiece of Victorian literature but also a tribute to Browning's personal experience and her enduring love story with Robert Browning.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "Sonnet 05 - I lift my heavy heart up solemnly" is a beautiful and powerful piece of poetry that captures the essence of love and the struggles that come with it. This sonnet is one of the most famous works of Browning and has been analyzed and appreciated by scholars and poetry enthusiasts for centuries. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this sonnet and explore the literary devices used by Browning to convey her message.
The sonnet begins with the speaker lifting her heavy heart up solemnly, indicating that she is in a state of despair or sadness. The use of the word "solemnly" suggests that the speaker is taking this action seriously and with great reverence. The first line sets the tone for the rest of the sonnet, which is a reflection on the speaker's feelings of love and the challenges that come with it.
The second line of the sonnet reads, "As once Electra her sepulchral urn." Here, Browning alludes to the Greek myth of Electra, who was known for her intense grief and mourning for her father. Electra kept her father's ashes in an urn and would visit it regularly to pay her respects. The comparison of the speaker's heavy heart to Electra's urn suggests that the speaker's love has died or is dying, and she is mourning its loss.
In the third line, the speaker says, "And, looking in thine eyes, I overturn." The use of the word "overturn" suggests that the speaker is trying to change something or turn it around. In this case, the speaker is looking into the eyes of her lover, hoping to find a way to revive their love or change the situation that has caused her heart to become heavy.
The fourth line reads, "The ashes of my hope, which therein lie." Here, the speaker compares her hope to ashes, indicating that it has been burned or destroyed. The use of the word "therein" suggests that the speaker's hope is contained within her lover's eyes, and she is searching for a way to reignite it.
In the fifth line, the speaker says, "If thou remember'st not the slightest crumb." The use of the word "crumb" suggests that the speaker's hope is small and fragile, and even the slightest bit of attention or affection from her lover could revive it. The speaker is pleading with her lover to remember the small things that they shared and to use them to reignite their love.
The sixth line reads, "Of me and mine, nor dost thou mind the same." Here, the speaker is expressing her frustration that her lover does not seem to remember or care about the things that they shared. The use of the words "me and mine" suggests that the speaker is referring to their shared experiences and memories, which her lover seems to have forgotten.
In the seventh line, the speaker says, "Drought in thy soul so I thirst in mine." The use of the word "drought" suggests that the speaker's lover is emotionally distant or unavailable, which is causing the speaker to feel thirsty or deprived of love. The comparison of the speaker's thirst to her lover's drought suggests that their love is unbalanced and that the speaker is giving more than she is receiving.
The eighth line reads, "Come, fill my cup, forget the past's remorse." Here, the speaker is pleading with her lover to fill her cup with love and to forget the past's remorse. The use of the word "remorse" suggests that the speaker is carrying guilt or regret from the past, which is affecting their present relationship. The speaker is asking her lover to let go of the past and focus on the present.
In the ninth line, the speaker says, "And pity me that am one sick for love." The use of the word "pity" suggests that the speaker is in a vulnerable state and is asking for her lover's compassion. The use of the word "sick" suggests that the speaker's love is causing her pain or suffering, and she is in need of her lover's care and attention.
The final line of the sonnet reads, "Who wish to be better to thee, but have no power." Here, the speaker is expressing her desire to be a better partner to her lover but feels powerless to do so. The use of the word "power" suggests that the speaker is struggling to overcome the challenges in their relationship and is in need of her lover's help and support.
In conclusion, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "Sonnet 05 - I lift my heavy heart up solemnly" is a beautiful and powerful piece of poetry that captures the essence of love and the struggles that come with it. Through the use of literary devices such as allusion, metaphor, and imagery, Browning conveys the speaker's feelings of despair, frustration, and longing for love. The sonnet is a timeless piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today, reminding us of the power of love and the challenges that come with it.
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