1. E.B.B.'s Sonnets Sonnets from the Portuguese
Sonnet 43 (“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways”)
Sonnet 22

2. Sonnet structure There are two types of sonnet (“little song”):
Italian (or Petrarchan- an Italian poet from the 14th century)
English (used and popularized by Shakespeare)
Both have a volta (“turn”) around line 9. This is a change in mood or tone.

3. Italian Sonnet
The structure of a typical Italian sonnet included two parts that together formed a compact form of "argument". First, the octave (two quatrains), forms the "proposition," which describes a "problem," followed by a sestet (two tercets), which proposes a resolution.
ABAB, ABAB, CDE, CDE
Later, variations became popular (ABBA, CDC, etc)

4. Theme
E.B.B. Wrote her series of 44 sonnets under the guise that they had been translated from the Portuguese language. (R.B. Called her 'my little Portugee')
This ties to the Victorian theme of modesty, even in the writing of love poems.
You can see her confidence grow as the series progresses.

5. Sonnet 22 Structure: Assess the rhyme scheme.
What is the octave about? Paraphrase
What is the sestet about? Paraphrase
Where is the Volta? What does that tell us about the theme?
What effect does the repetitious 'd' sound in the last line have? How does it tie to carpe diem theme?

6. Sonnet 22 When our two souls stand up erect and strong,
Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher,
Until the lengthening wings break into fire
At either curvèd point,—what bitter wrong
Can the earth do to us, that we should not long
Be here contented? Think. In mounting higher,
The angels would press on us and aspire
To drop some golden orb of perfect song

7. Sonnet 22 Into our deep, dear silence. Let us stay
Rather on earth, Beloved,—where the unfit
Contrarious moods of men recoil away
And isolate pure spirits, and permit
A place to stand and love in for a day,
With darkness and the death-hour rounding it.

8. Sonnet 43 Quickly assess the structure- rhyme scheme, volta, meter
This is the penultimate sonnet in the series- how has her confidence (as reflected in tone) changed? (I vs. they)

9. Sonnet 43
Themes of death and faith are prominent. What is her attitude toward God/faith? Love? Is love a new religion?
A new metaphysical poet? One of the primary Platonic concepts found in metaphysical poetry is the idea that the perfection of beauty in the beloved acted as a remembrance of perfect beauty in the eternal realm. (see lines 3-4)

10. Sonnet 43 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.
(lines 1-4)

11. Sonnet 43 I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
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
(lines 5-9)

12. Sonnet 43 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.
(lines 10-14)