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Summary In-depth analysis notes of 'Sonnet 29 -I think of thee!' by Elizabeth Barret Browning
GCSE English Literature Poetry Anthology: Love & Relationships, 'Sonnet 29 -I think of thee!' Annotation
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Romantic Relationship Sonnet 29 - ‘I think of thee!’Dash - Follows after the declarative statement signalling
that the speaker will continue to dwell on her lover. Elizabeth Barret Browning
Exclamation Mark - Simile - Connotes movement, as reader can see how
Subject & Pronouns - “I” establish a first-person Conveys passion from the the “wild vines” multiply, grow and “twine”. Suggests
perspective with a mood of intimacy through “thee”. speaker, emphasising her the speaker’s thoughts are all consuming and are
thoughts have only one constantly growing & developing.
Natural & Wild Imagery - direction, for him.
Established through “wild vines”, Internal Rhyme - “thee” & “tree” link the
suggests her thoughts about the compassion of her lover to a tree. This
lover cannot be tamed. I think of thee! — my thoughts do twine and bud metaphor conveys an image of a strong
masculine lover. Emphasised by “broad”.
Noun - “vine” creates an intimate About thee, as wild vines, about a tree,
image of clinging which could Pronoun - “nought” emphasises
reflect physical desire. Put out broad leaves, and soon there 's nought to see her beloved’s absence.
Conjunction - “yet” may introduce Adverb - “instantly” adds a level of
the idea of dissatisfaction. Except the straggling green which hides the wood.
urgency and demand to the
argument. This is emphasised by the
Stereotypes - This Victorian Yet, O my palm-tree, be it understood enjambment after which doesn’t
female speaker is assertive and allow for a pause, reinforcing the
demanding as she is not content I will not have my thoughts instead of thee demand for a quick response as the
with simply possessing thoughts role over between lines is quick to.
of her lover but insists, she must Who art dearer, better! Rather, instantly
have physical possession, even out Comparatives - “dearest” & “better”
of marriage. This may be Renew thy presence; as a strong tree should, used in hopes to flatter her lover
surprising to the reader as usually
Victorian females would usually be Sibilance - Used to reflect the rustling
Rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk all bare, sound of the tree’s leaves which continue
expected to wait silently and
patiently for her lover to visit. the natural imagery in poem.
Emphasised by “rather” which And let these bands of greenery which insphere thee
may imply she is about to set out Extended Metaphor - Tree metaphor
her preferences & opinions. Drop heavily down,—burst, shattered, everywhere! continued with adjective “strong” to
reinforce the masculine image.
Pronoun - “thy” meaning “your” Because, in this deep joy to see and hear thee Metaphor - Suggests she has been freed
reminds the reader of the original from the clinging vines & “bands of
intention of this collection, which And breathe within thy shadow a new air, greenery”. Also, there is a shift suggesting
was not for them to be published. that their love is transformative.
Shows just how personal and I do not think of thee—I am too near thee.
unfiltered these emotional are. Natural Imagery & Metaphor - “bands” may
Verbs - “see” & “hear” imply inspire images of being trapped. Perhaps the
Antithesis of First Line - Highlights that the subject’s presence is suffocating nature of the vines hint to the
the difference between thinking a multi-sensory experience. poet feeling trapped in a situation where she
about him and being with him. is deeply infatuated by her lover while her
father also disapproving of her lover, Robert.
Contrast, Repetition & Themes
• Themes of Passionate & True Love
• Themes of Separation
Analysing Structure (A02)
Focus & Movement
. Summary
The speaker tells her lover how much she thinks about him
Structure This is an when they’re not together. She insists on his physical presence
Sonnet - ”
Petrarchaned by a sestet. “Rennew d
but there seems to be an obstacle which makes the speaker feel
trapped or suffocated. This is resolved by the end of the poem
ow a
octave follthe end of the octave uning where the speaker implies that she no longer needs those
signals olta (t
a ng e in to ne at the Von at their passionate thoughts as she has him in reality.
ch frustrati ce
point) from commanding insisten
n to
separatio n their unification. Context about Elizabeth Barret Browning (A03)
o
irrors the
meter - Mspeech.
• Born in 1906 at Coxhoe Hall, Durham, she was the eldest of 12 children.
b ic P en ta
Iam
rhythms of
natural • Elizabeth’s father raised his family in England, while his fortune grew in
Jamaica, where he owned sugar plantations and relied on slave labour.
Perspective • The abolition of slavery depleted the family’s income, forcing her father to
Lyric Poem - Structures such
these pay close attention to as sell his rural estate.
the
speaker’s emotions. • She gained the attention of Robert Browning in 1844 when she released a
collection titled ‘Poems’. They developed a romantic relationship which was
opposed by her father, which led the couple to elope and move to Florence.
Elizabeth became disinherited by her father.
• This poem is from a 44-love poem collection called ‘Sonnets from the
Portuguese’, which her husband encouraged her to publish.
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