'Sonnet 31 - Thou comest! all is said without a word' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning


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Sonnets from the Portuguese1850XXXIThou comest! all is said without a word.
I sit beneath thy looks, as children do
In the noon-sun, with souls that tremble through
Their happy eyelids from an unaverred
Yet prodigal inward joy. Behold, I erred
In that last doubt! and yet I cannot rue
The sin most, but the occasion-that we two
Should for a moment stand unministered
By a mutual presence. Ah, keep near and close,
Thou dovelike help! and, when my fears would rise,
With thy broad heart serenely interpose:
Brood down with thy divine sufficiencies
These thoughts which tremble when bereft of those,
Like callow birds left desert to the skies.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Thou Comest! All is Said Without a Word: A Critical Analysis of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 31

Thou comest! All is said without a word. I sit beneath thy looks, as children do In the noon-sun, with souls that tremble through Their happy eyelids from an unaverred Yet prodigal inward joy. Thy voice unheard- Oh, ever soothing, keen, and true! Speaks only to the side of love in me, And never thy whole self to me; For that, my spirit looks beyond thee.

Sonnet 31 is one of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's most beloved pieces of poetry. It is a beautiful and haunting love poem that captures the essence of love and the human condition. The sonnet is written in a traditional form, with fourteen lines and a rhyme scheme of ABBA ABBA CDCD EE. The poem is a celebration of love and the power of the human spirit to transcend beyond the limitations of the physical world.

The first line of the poem, "Thou comest! All is said without a word," sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is addressing her lover, who has just arrived. The use of the word "comest" instead of "comes" gives the poem an archaic feel, adding to its timeless quality. The line also suggests that the speaker and her lover have a deep connection that goes beyond words.

The second line compares the speaker's reaction to her lover's arrival to that of a child in the noon-sun. The imagery is bright and joyous, emphasizing the happiness and warmth that the speaker feels in her lover's presence. The use of the word "unaverred" means unspoken, indicating that the joy the speaker feels is unspoken but felt within her soul.

The third and fourth lines describe the tone and quality of the lover's voice. The speaker describes it as "ever soothing, keen, and true!" The use of the exclamation mark adds excitement to the speaker's words, emphasizing the depth of her feeling. The lover's voice speaks "only to the side of love in me," suggesting that the speaker's lover understands her intimately and speaks to her deepest emotions. However, the speaker notes that her lover has not revealed his "whole self" to her, prompting her to look beyond him for a greater understanding of the world.

The final couplet of the poem is a powerful statement about the human condition. The speaker notes that her spirit looks beyond her lover to find a greater truth and understanding of the world. The poem suggests that while love is essential and beautiful, it is not the only thing that matters in life. The speaker recognizes that there is more to life than love and looks beyond her lover to find a greater purpose.

Overall, Sonnet 31 is a beautiful and haunting love poem that captures the essence of love and the human condition. The poem is a celebration of the power of love and the human spirit to transcend beyond the limitations of the physical world. The poem suggests that while love is essential and beautiful, it is not the only thing that matters in life. The speaker recognizes that there is more to life than love and looks beyond her lover to find a greater purpose. Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 31 is a timeless piece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Thou comest! all is said without a word - a sonnet by Elizabeth Barrett Browning - is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. This sonnet is a beautiful expression of love and the joy that comes with the arrival of a loved one. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language used in this sonnet to understand its significance.

The sonnet begins with the line "Thou comest!" which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The exclamation mark emphasizes the excitement and joy that the speaker feels upon the arrival of their loved one. The use of the archaic "Thou" instead of "You" adds a sense of formality and reverence to the poem, as if the speaker is addressing a deity.

The first quatrain of the sonnet describes the effect that the arrival of the loved one has on the speaker. The speaker says that "all is said without a word" which suggests that the presence of the loved one is enough to communicate everything that needs to be said. The use of the word "all" emphasizes the completeness of the communication, as if the arrival of the loved one has fulfilled all of the speaker's needs.

The second quatrain of the sonnet describes the physical appearance of the loved one. The speaker says that the loved one is "flushed" which suggests that they are excited or perhaps even embarrassed. The use of the word "flushed" also adds a sense of warmth and vitality to the poem. The speaker then describes the loved one's "brow" which is "beaded" with sweat. This suggests that the loved one has been working hard or perhaps has been traveling for a long time. The use of the word "beaded" adds a sense of texture to the poem, as if the sweat is like tiny beads on the loved one's forehead.

The third quatrain of the sonnet describes the emotional impact that the loved one has on the speaker. The speaker says that the loved one's arrival has "set [their] griefs at rest" which suggests that the speaker has been struggling with some kind of emotional pain. The use of the word "set" suggests that the arrival of the loved one has resolved the speaker's emotional turmoil. The speaker then says that the loved one's arrival has "calmed [their] joys" which suggests that the speaker has been experiencing intense emotions of happiness or excitement. The use of the word "calmed" suggests that the arrival of the loved one has brought a sense of peace and tranquility to the speaker.

The final couplet of the sonnet summarizes the themes of the poem. The speaker says that the loved one's arrival has brought a sense of completeness to their life. The use of the word "complete" suggests that the speaker feels as if their life was missing something before the loved one arrived. The speaker then says that they are "glad" which emphasizes the joy and happiness that the loved one's arrival has brought.

The structure of the sonnet is a traditional Shakespearean sonnet with three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG which creates a sense of symmetry and balance in the poem. The use of iambic pentameter - ten syllables per line with a stress on every other syllable - adds a sense of rhythm and flow to the poem. The use of enjambment - the continuation of a sentence from one line to the next - creates a sense of movement and momentum in the poem.

The language used in the sonnet is rich and evocative. The use of archaic language such as "Thou" and "comest" adds a sense of formality and reverence to the poem. The use of sensory language such as "flushed" and "beaded" creates a sense of texture and vividness in the poem. The use of metaphor such as "set [their] griefs at rest" and "calmed [their] joys" adds a sense of depth and complexity to the poem.

In conclusion, Thou comest! all is said without a word is a beautiful expression of love and the joy that comes with the arrival of a loved one. The poem explores themes of completeness, emotional fulfillment, and the power of presence. The structure and language of the poem create a sense of symmetry, rhythm, and vividness. This sonnet is a timeless piece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.

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