Sonnet 14 from the Portuguese Author: Elizabeth Barret Browning

Elizabeth Barret Browning She was born on March 6, 1806 She was born on March 6, 1806 She was born in Coxhoe Hill Durham, England She was born in Coxhoe Hill Durham, England Her parents were really wealthy due to her family’s land in Jamaica Her parents were really wealthy due to her family’s land in Jamaica She was home schooled and very studious She was home schooled and very studious Her writing is compared to Shakespeare Her writing is compared to Shakespeare

Sonnets from the Portuguese She wrote it in 1850, dedicated to her husband (Robert Browning) She wrote it in 1850, dedicated to her husband (Robert Browning) She wrote it secretly before they got married She wrote it secretly before they got married This was one of her best works, and one of the best works in her time This was one of her best works, and one of the best works in her time It was a series of sonnets, a total of 44 It was a series of sonnets, a total of 44 She had to hide her love by changing the title of her poem to Sonnets from the Portuguese, so it looks like she was just translating this from Portuguese She had to hide her love by changing the title of her poem to Sonnets from the Portuguese, so it looks like she was just translating this from Portuguese Usually it’s a male writing to women in the Elizabethan Time Period but this is the opposite. Usually it’s a male writing to women in the Elizabethan Time Period but this is the opposite.

What is your definition of loving someone? Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. Loving someone means you love them for who they are and for love sake. ( not for looks or pity) Loving someone means you love them for who they are and for love sake. ( not for looks or pity) Love is when you admire someone, you care for them, you look up to them, and you respect them. Love is when you admire someone, you care for them, you look up to them, and you respect them.

Read the poem, find the message and theme. 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 on such a day” 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 on such a day” For these things in themselves, Belovèd, may Be changed, or change for thee,and love, so wrought, May be unwrought so. Neither love me for Thine own dear pity’s wiping my cheeks dry, For these things in themselves, Belovèd, may Be changed, or change for thee,and love, so wrought, May be unwrought so. Neither love me for Thine own dear pity’s wiping my cheeks dry, A creature might forget to weep, who bore Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby! But love me for love’s sake, that evermore Thou may’st love on, through love’s eternity. A creature might forget to weep, who bore Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby! But love me for love’s sake, that evermore Thou may’st love on, through love’s eternity.

Theme The theme is to love someone for love sake and love’s sake only, not for pity or looks because those wont last and change. Love sake in love is the only thing that will last for eternity and will not change. The sonnet is about how you love someone for love sake that is it The theme is to love someone for love sake and love’s sake only, not for pity or looks because those wont last and change. Love sake in love is the only thing that will last for eternity and will not change. The sonnet is about how you love someone for love sake that is it

Literary devices? Rhyme Rhyme Personification Personification Alliteration Alliteration Repitition Repitition

Unique/Modern connections In Elizabeth’s time, sonnets were generally written about girls by men, however Elizabeth wrote about a guy. This was very different. The roles were reversed. This is very similar to poetry today. There are a lot of literature where women talk about men. In Elizabeth’s time, sonnets were generally written about girls by men, however Elizabeth wrote about a guy. This was very different. The roles were reversed. This is very similar to poetry today. There are a lot of literature where women talk about men.

Modern literature relationship? Can you think of any modern connections to this sonnet. Any songs that relate to any part of the theme? Get together in groups of 2-3 and the group who wins gets a prize. Can you think of any modern connections to this sonnet. Any songs that relate to any part of the theme? Get together in groups of 2-3 and the group who wins gets a prize.