How does the Petrarchan structure of Sonnet 43 differ from a Shakespearean sonnet?

Sonnet 43 uses an octave ($ABBAABBA$) and a sestet ($CDCDCD$), whereas a Shakespearean sonnet uses three quatrains and a final rhyming couplet. This allows the Petrarchan form to have a single 'turn' or volta at line 9, rather than a final summary at the end.

What is the difference between the 'abstract' love and 'everyday' love described in the poem?

Abstract love is described through spatial metaphors like 'depth and breadth and height' and spiritual 'grace,' while everyday love is grounded in 'most quiet need' by 'sun and candle-light.' This shows that love is both a metaphysical force and a practical, constant presence.

How does the speaker's 'childhood faith' compare to her current love?

The speaker suggests that the 'passion' she once felt in her 'old griefs' and the 'faith' of her childhood have been redirected into her love for the addressee. Her romantic love has become the new vessel for her spiritual intensity.

What is a common misconception regarding the 'lost saints' mentioned in the poem?

A common error is thinking the speaker has lost her religious faith. In reality, she means that the devotion she once felt for religious figures (saints) has been transferred to her beloved, making her love a form of 'sanctified' devotion.

Why is it a mistake to view the 'counting' in the first line as a literal list?

The 'counting' is a rhetorical device used to show that love is actually uncountable and infinite. By attempting to measure it in 'depth' and 'height,' the speaker actually proves that her love exceeds human measurement.

What error do students make when analyzing the poem's meter?

Students often ignore the variations in iambic pentameter. While the poem is generally regular, the use of caesura (pauses) and enjambment (run-on lines) breaks the rhythm to reflect the speaker's breathlessness and emotional urgency.

Define 'Anaphora' in the context of Sonnet 43.

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. In this poem, the repetition of 'I love thee' serves to emphasize the speaker's obsession and the various 'ways' her love manifests.

What is the 'Volta' and where does it occur in this poem?

The volta is the 'turn' in thought or argument in a sonnet. In Sonnet 43, it occurs at line 9, where the speaker shifts from describing the abstract dimensions of love to the personal history and emotional 'griefs' that fuel her current passion.

Define 'Iambic Pentameter'.

It is a poetic meter consisting of five iambic feet per line, where each foot is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one ($da-DUM$). It is the standard meter for traditional English sonnets.

Why does the poem conclude with a reference to 'death'?

The conclusion 'I shall but love thee better after death' suggests that love is an immortal force. By invoking God's choice, the speaker argues that true love is not limited by the physical body or the lifespan of a human being.

Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning | WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Literature

Poetry from 1789 to the Present Day

Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Summary

Sonnet 43, often recognized by its opening line 'How do I love thee?', is a definitive Victorian Petrarchan sonnet that explores the multi-dimensional nature of love. It transitions from abstract, spiritual measurements to the intimate realities of daily life, ultimately arguing that true love is an eternal force that transcends physical existence.

1. Definition & Core Concepts

Petrarchan Sonnet Form: The poem follows the traditional Italian (Petrarchan) structure, consisting of an octave (the first eight lines) and a sestet (the final six lines). This structure is used to present a problem or question in the octave and a resolution or commentary in the sestet.
Iambic Pentameter: The poem is written in iambic pentameter, a rhythmic pattern of five 'iambs' (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one) per line. This creates a steady, heartbeat-like pulse that reinforces the theme of constant, enduring devotion.
The Rhetorical Framework: The poem begins with a rhetorical question ('How do I love thee?') which sets up the rest of the poem as a systematic 'counting' or cataloging of the speaker's emotions.

Diagram of the Petrarchan Sonnet structure showing the Octave, Sestet, and the Volta (turn) at line 9.

2. Underlying Principles: The Geometry of Love

Spatial Metaphors: The speaker attempts to quantify love using three-dimensional terms: depth, breadth, and height. This suggests that love is not just a feeling but a physical space that the soul occupies when reaching for 'ideal grace.'
The Abstract vs. The Mundane: The poem balances high-level spiritual concepts with 'every day's most quiet need.' This principle suggests that true love exists simultaneously in the grand, metaphysical realm and the simple, domestic reality of 'sun and candle-light.'
Temporal Continuity: The poem moves through different stages of the speaker's life—from 'childhood's faith' to 'old griefs'—to demonstrate that love is a cumulative force that integrates all past experiences into the present devotion.

3. Methods & Rhetorical Techniques

Anaphora: The repetition of the phrase 'I love thee' at the start of multiple lines creates a cumulative, incantatory effect. This technique builds emotional momentum and emphasizes the speaker's singular focus.
Caesura and Enjambment: The use of internal pauses (caesura) and lines that run over into the next (enjambment) mimics the natural breath and the overflowing nature of the speaker's passion. It prevents the iambic pentameter from becoming too rigid or mechanical.
Religious Allusions: By referencing 'Saints,' 'Grace,' and 'God,' the speaker elevates romantic love to the level of religious worship. This suggests that the love described is virtuous, pure, and sanctioned by a higher power.

4. Key Distinctions: Petrarchan vs. Shakespearean

5. Exam Strategy & Tips

Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Summary

1. Definition & Core Concepts

Petrarchan Sonnet Form: The poem follows the traditional Italian (Petrarchan) structure, consisting of an octave (the first eight lines) and a sestet (the final six lines). This structure is used to present a problem or question in the octave and a resolution or commentary in the sestet.
Iambic Pentameter: The poem is written in iambic pentameter, a rhythmic pattern of five 'iambs' (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one) per line. This creates a steady, heartbeat-like pulse that reinforces the theme of constant, enduring devotion.
The Rhetorical Framework: The poem begins with a rhetorical question ('How do I love thee?') which sets up the rest of the poem as a systematic 'counting' or cataloging of the speaker's emotions.

Diagram of the Petrarchan Sonnet structure showing the Octave, Sestet, and the Volta (turn) at line 9.

2. Underlying Principles: The Geometry of Love

Spatial Metaphors: The speaker attempts to quantify love using three-dimensional terms: depth, breadth, and height. This suggests that love is not just a feeling but a physical space that the soul occupies when reaching for 'ideal grace.'
The Abstract vs. The Mundane: The poem balances high-level spiritual concepts with 'every day's most quiet need.' This principle suggests that true love exists simultaneously in the grand, metaphysical realm and the simple, domestic reality of 'sun and candle-light.'
Temporal Continuity: The poem moves through different stages of the speaker's life—from 'childhood's faith' to 'old griefs'—to demonstrate that love is a cumulative force that integrates all past experiences into the present devotion.

3. Methods & Rhetorical Techniques

Anaphora: The repetition of the phrase 'I love thee' at the start of multiple lines creates a cumulative, incantatory effect. This technique builds emotional momentum and emphasizes the speaker's singular focus.
Caesura and Enjambment: The use of internal pauses (caesura) and lines that run over into the next (enjambment) mimics the natural breath and the overflowing nature of the speaker's passion. It prevents the iambic pentameter from becoming too rigid or mechanical.
Religious Allusions: By referencing 'Saints,' 'Grace,' and 'God,' the speaker elevates romantic love to the level of religious worship. This suggests that the love described is virtuous, pure, and sanctioned by a higher power.

4. Key Distinctions: Petrarchan vs. Shakespearean

Structural Logic: While a Shakespearean sonnet often uses three quatrains to build an argument and a final couplet to provide a witty twist, the Petrarchan sonnet used here uses the octave to establish the scope of love and the sestet to ground it in personal history and future eternity.

Feature	Petrarchan (Sonnet 43)	Shakespearean
Division	Octave (8) + Sestet (6)	3 Quatrains (4) + Couplet (2)
Rhyme Scheme	$ABBAABBA$ and $CDCDCD$	$ABAB$ $CDCD$ $EFEF$ $GG$
The Turn (Volta)	Usually at Line 9	Usually at Line 13

Thematic Resolution: In Sonnet 43, the resolution is not a clever summary but a spiritual projection. The final lines do not 'solve' the poem but extend its reach into the afterlife ('I shall but love thee better after death').

5. Exam Strategy & Tips

Analyze the Volta: Always look for the shift in tone at line 9. In this poem, the focus shifts from the abstract 'soul' and 'grace' to the speaker's personal 'passion' and 'old griefs.'
Identify the Paradox: Pay attention to the phrase 'I love thee freely, as men strive for Right.' This is a paradox because 'striving' implies effort, while 'freely' implies ease; it suggests that her love is both a natural impulse and a moral choice.
Check the Ending: Examiners often ask about the final line. Note that the love is conditional ('if God choose'), which adds a layer of humility and religious submission to an otherwise hyperbolic poem.
Common Mistake: Do not assume the 'lost saints' refers to a loss of religious faith. Rather, it suggests that the intensity once reserved for religious icons has now been redirected toward the beloved.

Feature

Petrarchan (Sonnet 43)

Shakespearean

Division

Octave (8) + Sestet (6)

3 Quatrains (4) + Couplet (2)

Rhyme Scheme

ABBAABBA

and

CDCDCD

ABAB

CDCD

EFEF

GG

The Turn (Volta)

Usually at Line 9

Usually at Line 13