Summary
Summary Sonnet 29 'I Think Of Thee' - Elizabeth Barrett Browning
AQA GCSE English Literature Poetry for Love and Relationships - Sonnet 29 'I Think Of Thee' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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Suggests the speaker’s love for her Completely Natural imagery - shows how the speaker’s thoughts focuseslove is extensive enclose on her lover like a vine wrapped around a tree - her thought
are constantly developing and growing
ConversationalSonnet 29 - ‘I Think Of Thee’
tone - the Exclamation mark - emphasises the Metaphor - the speaker is the ‘wild vines’ and her
speaker pleasure she takes in thinking of him lover is the ‘tree’. Shows a strong and physical desire
addresses her
The speaker’s thoughts threaten to stop her from
lover directlyI think of thee!—my thoughts do twine and bud
seeing her lover as he really is
which makesAbout thee, as wild vines, about a tree,
the poem seem Put out broad leaves, and soon there's nought to see Suggests the ‘vines’ are inferior to the tree - her
more personalExcept the straggling green which hides the wood. thoughts are about her love is inferior to the man
Yet, O my palm-tree, be it understood Religious imagery - her love is himself
as powerful as her faith in God.
Emphasises I will not have my thoughts instead of thee Similarly, her love is not present just like God is not present
how much sheWho art dearer, better! Rather, instantly
Possibly an erotic reference as she wants physical desire
wants him Renew thy presence; as a strong tree should,
Rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk all bare, Description of the way his presence replaces her thoughts
The weight And let these bands of greenery which insphere thee emphasises her excitement - contributes to dramatic effect
of her Drop heavily down,—burst, shattered, everywhere! Marks the conclusion of her argument - she wants her
thoughts Because, in this deep joy to see and hear thee lover to understand how much she enjoys being with him
shows how And breathe within thy shadow a new air,
much she I do not think of thee—I am too near thee. The speaker doesn’t have to think about her lover
thinks of him when she is with him - he is better than anything she
is capable of imaging
Reversal of the first line highlights the difference
between thinking about the speaker’s lover and
being with him
Elizabeth Browning
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