1. Sonnet 43 Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. 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. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.
10 Key Words
If you had to cut the poem down to only 10 words, which 10 would you pick?
Be ready to justify your choices.

2. Sonnet 43 Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Background Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote a series of 44 sonnets, in secret, about her intense love for husband-to-be poet Robert Browning. It is very autobiographical – even mentioning her disagreements with her parents (my old griefs). She was eventually disinherited.

3. The Sonnet Structure
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. 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. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! - and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.
The poem has the typical sonnet structure with 14 lines that use Iambic Pentameter. It uses the rhyme scheme ABBA ABBA CDCDCD. The first 8 lines (the octave) present the theme of the poem. The last 6 lines (the sestet) then develops the theme – Line 9 is known as ‘the turn’ in a sonnet.
Browning uses more punctuation towards the end of the poem.
Could this be showing her excitement/passion for her love?

4. Why does she start with a question
Why does she start with a question? What does this allow her to do for the rest of the poem?
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. 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.
Use of a list?
Can you spot the religious/spiritual vocabulary choices? Why do you think these are used?
She uses references to light. What does this suggest about the love?
Repetition of ‘I love thee’ (x8 in the whole poem)

5. How does the speaker show the focus of her love has changed?
Autobiographical Elements
Old griefs – family arguments/disputes
Childhood’s faith/lost saints – loss of religious beliefs
I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! - and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.
How does the speaker show the focus of her love has changed?
! – excitement about the love
Some religious beliefs still remain
– God is in control of her life
What does the last line suggest about her feelings?

6. How does Barrett Browning demonstrate her love in Sonnet 43?
Make a point about the theme of love.
Add in the quote
What does the quote show about the love?
Pick out language choices to discuss.
What is Barrett Browning’s message to the reader?
Barrett Browning shows her intense love through… By using “____________” it suggests the love is … The word “…” is used to… “….” also implies… The writer wants the reader to understand…