'Sonnet VIII' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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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 VIII by Elizabeth Barrett Browning: A Poetic Masterpiece
Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet VIII is a beautiful and complex piece of poetry that explores the themes of love, life, and death. This sonnet, also known as "The Love Sonnet," is a part of a series of 44 sonnets that Barrett Browning wrote to her husband, Robert Browning. Sonnet VIII is a perfect example of the depth of emotion and sophisticated use of language that Barrett Browning brought to her writing.
A Brief Overview of the Sonnet
Sonnet VIII consists of a total of fourteen lines, with each line containing ten syllables. The rhyme scheme that Barrett Browning used in this sonnet is ABBA ABBA CDC DCD. The first eight lines are known as the octet, and the last six lines are known as the sestet. The sonnet follows the typical structure of an Italian sonnet, also known as a Petrarchan sonnet.
Analysis of the Poem
The first line of Sonnet VIII sets the tone for the poem: "What can I give thee back, O liberal." The word "liberal" here refers to Robert Browning, who was known for his generosity and open-mindedness. The speaker of the poem is asking what she could possibly give back to her lover that would match his generosity.
In the second line, the speaker continues to express her admiration for her lover by calling him "the giver of the great gift." This line is important as it establishes the nature of the relationship between the speaker and her lover.
The third line marks a shift in the poem as the speaker begins to express her own limitations. She acknowledges that she is not as gifted as her lover and that there are some things that she cannot give him.
The fourth line is a continuation of the third as the speaker says, "Silence and tears." The use of the word "silence" here refers to the fact that the speaker may not always have the right words to say, while "tears" signify the depth of the speaker's emotions.
In the fifth line, the speaker acknowledges that there are things that she can give her lover. She says, "And while my love shall live." This line is crucial as it establishes the speaker's commitment to her lover and the fact that her love will endure.
The sixth line continues the theme of commitment as the speaker says, "I'll love thee better after death." This line is particularly significant as the speaker is saying that her love will continue even after death.
The seventh and eighth lines of the poem are also important as they form the volta, or the turning point, of the sonnet. The speaker says, "And wilt thou then forget that after death / I still can love?" Here, the speaker is questioning her lover's commitment to her and whether he will forget her after she has passed away.
The final six lines of the poem then explore the themes of love, life, and death in a more profound way. In the ninth line, the speaker says, "I shall but love thee better after death." This line is a repetition of the line from the sixth line and reinforces the idea that the speaker's love will endure even after she has passed away.
In the tenth line, the speaker talks about the nature of love and how it is not limited by time. She says, "And love, since thou hast loved me, shall not die." Here, the speaker is saying that the love that she and her lover share will never die because it is rooted in a deep and profound connection.
In the eleventh and twelfth lines, the speaker talks about the inevitability of death and how it will not be able to separate her from her lover. She says, "Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest; / Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade." Here, the speaker is saying that even in death, her lover will still belong to her and that death will not be able to separate them.
In the final two lines of the poem, the speaker brings the themes of love, life, and death together in a powerful and moving way. She says, "When in eternal lines to time thou growest: / So long as men can breathe or eyes can see." Here, the speaker is saying that her love will be immortalized in her poetry and that as long as people can read her words, her love will continue.
Conclusion
Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet VIII is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the themes of love, life, and death in a powerful and moving way. The sonnet is a testament to the depth of emotion and sophisticated use of language that Barrett Browning brought to her writing. Through her words, she was able to capture the essence of love and the enduring nature of human connection. Sonnet VIII is a timeless piece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet VIII is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. The sonnet is a beautiful expression of love that captures the essence of true love and the power of the human heart. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language used in the sonnet to understand the depth of its meaning.
The sonnet is a fourteen-line poem that follows a strict rhyme scheme and structure. Sonnet VIII follows the traditional structure of a sonnet, with three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABBA ABBA CDC DCD, which is typical of the Petrarchan sonnet. The sonnet is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables.
The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing her beloved, expressing her love for him. The first quatrain sets the tone for the rest of the sonnet, with the speaker describing the depth of her love. She says, “I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.” This line is a powerful expression of love, as the speaker is saying that her love for her beloved is limitless and knows no bounds. The use of the word “soul” emphasizes the spiritual nature of the love that the speaker feels.
In the second quatrain, the speaker continues to express her love for her beloved, saying that she loves him “with a love I seemed to lose with my lost saints.” This line is a reference to the speaker’s religious beliefs, as she compares her love for her beloved to the love she had for her saints. The use of the word “seemed” suggests that the speaker has found a new love that is even greater than her love for her saints. The speaker also says that she loves her beloved “with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life.” This line emphasizes the depth of the speaker’s love, as she is saying that her love for her beloved is intertwined with every aspect of her life.
The third quatrain takes a slightly different turn, as the speaker acknowledges that her love for her beloved may be imperfect. She says, “and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.” This line suggests that the speaker’s love for her beloved may not be perfect, but she is willing to continue to love him even after death. The use of the word “choose” suggests that the speaker believes that her love for her beloved is in God’s hands, and she is willing to accept whatever fate may bring.
The final couplet brings the sonnet to a close, with the speaker reaffirming her love for her beloved. She says, “I shall but love thee better after death.” This line is a powerful expression of the speaker’s love, as she is saying that her love for her beloved will continue even after death. The use of the word “better” suggests that the speaker’s love will continue to grow and evolve even after death.
The language used in Sonnet VIII is rich and powerful, with the speaker using metaphors and imagery to express her love. The use of the word “soul” in the first quatrain emphasizes the spiritual nature of the love that the speaker feels. The comparison to lost saints in the second quatrain is a powerful metaphor that emphasizes the depth of the speaker’s love. The use of the word “choose” in the third quatrain suggests that the speaker believes that her love for her beloved is in God’s hands, and she is willing to accept whatever fate may bring.
In conclusion, Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet VIII is a beautiful expression of love that captures the essence of true love and the power of the human heart. The sonnet follows a strict rhyme scheme and structure, with the speaker expressing her love for her beloved in three quatrains and a final couplet. The language used in the sonnet is rich and powerful, with the speaker using metaphors and imagery to express her love. Sonnet VIII is a timeless piece of poetry that continues to inspire and move readers today.
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