'Sonnet 08 - What can I give thee back, O liberal' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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VIII
What can I give thee back, O liberal
And princely giver, who hast brought the gold
And purple of thine heart, unstained, untold,
And laid them on the outside of the-wall
For such as I to take or leave withal,
In unexpected largesse? am I cold,
Ungrateful, that for these most manifold
High gifts, I render nothing back at all?
Not so; not cold,—but very poor instead.
Ask God who knows. For frequent tears have run
The colors from my life, and left so dead
And pale a stuff, it were not fitly done
To give the same as pillow to thy head.
Go farther! let it serve to trample on.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 08 - What can I give thee back, O liberal
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 08 is a beautiful piece of poetry that captures the essence of love and gratitude in a unique and intricate manner. The poem is a reflection of the speaker's overwhelming feeling of gratitude towards a person who has shown her immense kindness and generosity. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will analyze the poem's structure, language, and themes, highlighting the significance of each element in the overall message of the poem.
Structure
Sonnet 08 is a Petrarchan sonnet with a rhyme scheme of ABBA ABBA CDDC EE. The poem consists of two quatrains and a sestet. The first quatrain is a reflection of the speaker's gratitude, while the second quatrain is a reflection of the speaker's love. The sestet is a culmination of the two, expressing the speaker's dilemma of what she can give in return for the kindness and love she has received.
The structure of the poem is significant in conveying the speaker's emotions effectively. The Petrarchan sonnet's structure allows for a clear separation of the different emotions and themes addressed in the poem, making it easier for the reader to understand and connect with the speaker's feelings.
Language
Browning's choice of language is critical in creating the tone and mood of the poem. Throughout the poem, the speaker uses metaphors and imagery to convey her emotions. For instance, in the first quatrain, the speaker compares the kindness shown to her to a "riches fine" (line 1), which conveys the depth of gratitude she feels towards the person.
In the second quatrain, the speaker uses the metaphor of a "heart in port" (line 5) to express her love. This metaphor creates a sense of safety and security, indicating that the speaker feels protected in the arms of the person she loves.
The sestet is full of imagery and metaphors that convey the speaker's dilemma effectively. For example, in line 9, the speaker uses the metaphor of a "silver chain" to describe the love and kindness she has received. This metaphor represents the weight of the emotions, indicating that the speaker feels indebted to the person.
The language used in the poem contributes significantly to the overall message of the poem. The metaphors and imagery create a clear picture of the speaker's emotions, making it easier for the reader to understand and connect with the speaker.
Themes
The main themes addressed in Sonnet 08 are gratitude, love, and reciprocity. The poem is a reflection of the speaker's feelings towards a person who has shown her immense kindness and love. The speaker expresses her gratitude towards the person in the first quatrain, highlighting the depth of her emotions.
In the second quatrain, the speaker expresses her love towards the person, indicating that she is deeply in love with them. The sestet is a culmination of the two emotions, expressing the speaker's dilemma of what she can give in return for the love and kindness she has received.
The theme of reciprocity is evident in the poem, as the speaker is struggling to find what she can give in return for the love and kindness she has received. This theme is essential in conveying the speaker's emotions effectively, as it highlights the weight of the emotions she is feeling.
Interpretation
Sonnet 08 is a beautiful piece of poetry that captures the essence of love and gratitude in a unique and intricate manner. The poem's structure, language, and themes contribute significantly to the overall message of the poem, creating a clear picture of the speaker's emotions.
The poem is a reflection of the speaker's overwhelming feeling of gratitude towards a person who has shown her immense kindness and generosity. The speaker is deeply in love with this person, and the two emotions culminate in the sestet, where the speaker is struggling to find what she can give in return for the love and kindness she has received.
The poem's significance lies in its ability to convey complex emotions in a simple and concise manner. The use of metaphors and imagery creates a clear picture of the speaker's emotions, making it easier for the reader to understand and connect with the speaker's feelings.
In conclusion, Sonnet 08 is a beautiful and poignant piece of poetry that captures the essence of love and gratitude. The poem's structure, language, and themes work together to create a clear picture of the speaker's emotions, making it a timeless piece of literature that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 08 - What can I give thee back, O liberal, written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, is a classic poem that explores the theme of love and gratitude. In this sonnet, the speaker expresses her gratitude towards her beloved and wonders what she can give in return for the love and kindness she has received.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing her beloved, asking what she can give in return for the love and kindness she has received. The use of the word "liberal" in the title suggests that the beloved is generous and giving, and the speaker is grateful for this. The first line of the poem, "What can I give thee back, O liberal," sets the tone for the rest of the sonnet, which is filled with gratitude and admiration.
The second line of the poem, "What can I do for thee, O generous," further emphasizes the speaker's admiration for her beloved. The use of the word "generous" suggests that the beloved is not only giving but also kind and compassionate. The speaker is in awe of her beloved's generosity and wants to do something in return.
In the third line of the poem, the speaker acknowledges that she cannot repay her beloved's kindness with material possessions. She says, "What can I do for thee, O generous, / What can I do to praise thee, laud, and bless?" This line suggests that the speaker is aware that material possessions cannot express the depth of her gratitude towards her beloved.
The fourth line of the poem, "For the kind words which thou hast spoken me," highlights the importance of words in expressing gratitude. The speaker is grateful for the kind words her beloved has spoken to her and acknowledges that words can be a powerful tool in expressing gratitude.
In the fifth line of the poem, the speaker expresses her desire to repay her beloved's kindness with her own kindness. She says, "Kindness, which is yet kindness, reckoneth; / Kindness which is yet love's just debt to me." This line suggests that the speaker believes that kindness is the best way to repay her beloved's kindness.
The sixth line of the poem, "I owe thee much, and yet I owe thee more," emphasizes the depth of the speaker's gratitude towards her beloved. The use of the word "much" suggests that the speaker is aware of the extent of her beloved's kindness, but the use of the word "more" suggests that she is also aware that her gratitude cannot be fully expressed.
In the seventh and eighth lines of the poem, the speaker acknowledges that her beloved's kindness has changed her life. She says, "I owe thee much, and yet I owe thee more, / I feel thy goodness, and I know thy worth." These lines suggest that the speaker is aware that her beloved's kindness has had a profound impact on her life and that she values her beloved's worth.
The ninth line of the poem, "For thee, immortalized in verse I find," suggests that the speaker has found a way to express her gratitude towards her beloved through poetry. The use of the word "immortalized" suggests that the speaker believes that her beloved's kindness deserves to be remembered and celebrated.
The final two lines of the poem, "What can I give thee back, O liberal, / What can I do for thee, O generous," repeat the opening lines of the poem. This repetition emphasizes the speaker's gratitude towards her beloved and suggests that she is still searching for a way to express it fully.
In conclusion, Sonnet 08 - What can I give thee back, O liberal, written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, is a beautiful poem that explores the theme of love and gratitude. The speaker expresses her gratitude towards her beloved and acknowledges that material possessions cannot fully express the depth of her gratitude. Instead, she believes that kindness and words are the best ways to express gratitude. The repetition of the opening lines of the poem at the end emphasizes the speaker's ongoing search for a way to fully express her gratitude towards her beloved. Overall, this sonnet is a timeless reminder of the importance of gratitude and the power of words in expressing it.
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