'Sonnet 27 - My own Beloved, who hast lifted me' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning


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XXVII

My own Beloved, who hast lifted me
From this drear flat of earth where I was thrown,
And, in betwixt the languid ringlets, blown
A life-breath, till the forehead hopefully
Shines out again, as all the angels see,
Before thy saving kiss! My own, my own,
Who camest to me when the world was gone,
And I who looked for only God, found thee!
I find thee; I am safe, and strong, and glad.
As one who stands in dewless asphodel
Looks backward on the tedious time he had
In the upper life,—so I, with bosom-swell,
Make witness, here, between the good and bad,
That Love, as strong as Death, retrieves as well.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 27: My own Beloved, who hast lifted me

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era, wrote Sonnet 27 - My own Beloved, who hast lifted me as an ode to her beloved husband, Robert Browning. It is a sonnet that encapsulates the depth of her love and gratitude for her husband, who pulled her out of the depths of despair and lifted her to new heights of happiness and contentment. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve into the themes, structure, language, and poetic devices employed by Barrett Browning in this sonnet.

Themes

At its core, Sonnet 27 is a love poem, but it is not just any love poem. It is a poem that celebrates the transformative power of love, the kind of love that lifts one out of the darkness and illuminates the path to a new life. It is a poem that captures the profound gratitude that one feels when they are loved unconditionally and supported through the hardest of times. Throughout the sonnet, Barrett Browning expresses her deep appreciation for her husband's unwavering love and support, which have helped her to overcome her past traumas and to find new meaning and purpose in her life.

Structure

The sonnet is structured in iambic pentameter, with a rhyme scheme of ABBA ABBA CDECDE. The first two quatrains set up the problem or situation, while the third quatrain and the final couplet offer a resolution or reflection on the situation. The sonnet is divided into two distinct parts, with the first part focusing on the speaker's past struggles and the second part centering on her present state of happiness.

Language

Barrett Browning's language in Sonnet 27 is rich and evocative, with a range of imagery and metaphors that add depth and complexity to the poem. She uses words like "darkness," "drear," and "desolate" to convey the depth of her despair before she met her beloved. In contrast, she uses words like "light," "bliss," and "balm" to describe the joy and comfort that her beloved brings to her life. The language Barrett Browning uses is emotive and powerful, creating a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the reader.

Poetic Devices

Barrett Browning employs a range of poetic devices in Sonnet 27, including alliteration, metaphor, and personification. For example, in line 5, she uses alliteration to emphasize the contrast between her past and present states, with the phrase "Drear light..." Similarly, she uses metaphor to describe the transformative power of her beloved's love, with the phrase "lifted me from out the dreary mould." Finally, she employs personification to give agency to her heart, describing it as a "pilgrim" that has found its true home.

Interpretation

Throughout Sonnet 27, Barrett Browning expresses her profound gratitude for her husband's love and support, which have helped her to overcome her past traumas and to find new meaning and purpose in her life. The poem is a celebration of the transformative power of love and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It conveys the idea that, even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a new beginning.

In conclusion, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 27 - My own Beloved, who hast lifted me is a powerful testament to the transformative power of love. Through her use of language, imagery, and poetic devices, Barrett Browning creates a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the reader, conveying the depth of her gratitude for her husband's unwavering love and support. The poem is a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit, and a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a new beginning.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet 27 - My own Beloved, who hast lifted me, is a classic poem written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This poem is a beautiful expression of love and gratitude towards the speaker's beloved. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing her beloved, thanking him for lifting her up from a state of despair. The speaker says, "My own Beloved, who hast lifted me / From this drear flat of earth where I was thrown." Here, the speaker is expressing her gratitude towards her beloved for rescuing her from a state of sadness and hopelessness. The use of the word "drear" emphasizes the bleakness of the speaker's previous state, and the word "flat" suggests a lack of depth or meaning in her life.

The speaker goes on to describe how her beloved has brought light and joy into her life. She says, "And, in betwixt the languid ringlets, thou / O'erfillest them with brightness of thy mirth." The use of the word "languid" suggests that the speaker was previously lacking energy or enthusiasm, but her beloved has brought a sense of joy and liveliness into her life. The phrase "brightness of thy mirth" emphasizes the happiness and positivity that the speaker's beloved brings to her.

The speaker then describes how her beloved has helped her to see the beauty in the world around her. She says, "And so my heart hath caught the strong sunbeams / And echoed back their music silverly." The use of the word "caught" suggests that the speaker was previously unable to appreciate the beauty around her, but her beloved has helped her to see it. The phrase "echoed back their music silverly" suggests that the speaker's newfound appreciation for beauty is reflected in her own joyful and musical spirit.

The speaker then expresses her love for her beloved, saying, "For, dearest, thou art what the world calls fair." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that her beloved is conventionally attractive, but she goes on to say that his true beauty lies in his kindness and love for her. She says, "The softness of thy blue eyes doth prepare / My soul to take thy print and keep it there." The use of the word "softness" suggests that the speaker finds comfort and safety in her beloved's gaze, and the phrase "take thy print and keep it there" suggests that she wants to hold onto his love and kindness forever.

The poem ends with the speaker expressing her desire to be with her beloved forever. She says, "And so the shadows of my mind do creep / Upon thy worth--I am not quite forgiven: / They drowse upon thy curling locks as sleep / And every thought is as a piper's heaven." The use of the word "shadows" suggests that the speaker still has some doubts or fears, but she is willing to overcome them for the sake of her beloved. The phrase "piper's heaven" suggests that the speaker's thoughts are filled with music and joy when she thinks of her beloved.

In conclusion, Sonnet 27 - My own Beloved, who hast lifted me is a beautiful poem that expresses gratitude, love, and joy. The speaker's gratitude towards her beloved for rescuing her from a state of despair is palpable, and her description of how he has brought light and joy into her life is both vivid and moving. The poem is a testament to the power of love to transform and uplift us, and it is a reminder that true beauty lies not in outward appearances, but in kindness and love.

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