Sonnet 29 by Elizabeth Barrett Browningis a passionate expression... Show more
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Katie
11/02/2023
English Lang.
Sonnet 29-‘I think of thee` - Elizabeth Barrett Browning
260
•
11 Feb 2023
•
Learn About Sonnet 29 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning - Simple Guide for Kids
Katie
@katie_alice
Sonnet 29: Structure and Imagery
Sonnet 29, "I think of thee," follows a traditional sonnet structure but infuses it with rich, evocative imagery drawn from nature. The poem begins with the speaker's thoughts entwining around the beloved like vines around a tree, creating a powerful visual metaphor for the all-consuming nature of love.
Vocabulary: Twine - to wind or coil around; Bud - to begin to grow or develop
The use of plant imagery continues throughout the sonnet, with the speaker comparing her beloved to a palm tree. This choice of imagery is significant for several reasons:
- It evokes exoticism and unfamiliarity, suggesting a new type of love.
- Palm trees are associated with victory in Roman symbolism, implying their love is triumphant.
- In biblical contexts, particularly the Song of Solomon, palm imagery is linked to physical love.
Example: The line "O my palm-tree" serves multiple symbolic purposes, representing life in a barren landscape , faith and belief, and the exotic nature of their relationship.
The poem's structure supports its thematic development, moving from the initial imagery of entwining thoughts to the final lines where the speaker is too close to even think of the beloved, overwhelmed by their presence.
Definition: Enjambment - the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause
The use of enjambment throughout the sonnet creates a sense of flowing, uncontained emotion, mirroring the speaker's overwhelming feelings.
Analysis of Sonnet 29: Love's Transformative Power
The final third of Sonnet 29 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning showcases the transformative power of love and physical presence. The poem shifts from the initial longing and imagination to the reality of being with the beloved.
Quote: "I will not have my thoughts instead of thee / Who art dearer, better!"
This declaration emphasizes the superiority of actual presence over mere thoughts or fantasies. The speaker demands renewal of the beloved's presence, using strong, active language:
- "Renew thy presence"
- "Rustle thy boughs"
- "Set thy trunk all bare"
These commands create a sense of urgency and desire for unmediated connection.
Highlight: The poem's conclusion, "I do not think of thee - I am too near thee," paradoxically expresses the ultimate closeness by the inability to think about the beloved.
This final line encapsulates the poem's journey from distant longing to immediate presence. It suggests that true intimacy transcends thought, becoming a state of being.
The sonnet's structure and imagery work together to convey the overwhelming nature of love:
- The extended tree metaphor evolves throughout the poem.
- The shift from "wild vines" to a "palm-tree" suggests the growth and maturation of love.
- The final image of "bands of greenery" dropping away implies the stripping away of barriers between lovers.
Vocabulary: Insphere - to enclose or contain within or as if within a sphere
This rich imagery and emotional progression make Sonnet 29 a quintessential example of Romantic movement love poetry in the Victorian era, blending passionate feeling with structured poetic form.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 29: Context and Composition
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, a prominent English poet of the Romantic movement living in the Victorian era, composed Sonnet 29 as part of her collection of 44 love sonnets. These sonnets gained immense popularity during her lifetime and continue to be widely quoted today.
The poem, titled "I think of thee," was written for her husband, Robert Browning. Their love story is notable, as Elizabeth was older than Robert and married later in life. This personal context adds depth to the poem's exploration of love and intimacy.
Highlight: The sonnet was initially not intended for publication, making it a deeply personal expression of Elizabeth's feelings for Robert.
The poem's narrative arc moves from intense longing for an absent lover to the overwhelming joy of physical presence. This transition reflects the poet's emotional journey and the transformative power of love.
Quote: "I think of thee!- my thoughts do twine and bud / About thee, as wild vines, about a tree"
These opening lines set the tone for the poem's exploration of love's all-encompassing nature, using vivid natural imagery to convey the speaker's emotions.
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Stefan S
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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Learn About Sonnet 29 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning - Simple Guide for Kids
Katie
@katie_alice
Sonnet 29 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a passionate expression of love, blending Romantic and Victorian sensibilities. The poem explores the intensity of thoughts about an absent lover and the transformative power of their presence.
- The sonnet is part of... Show more
Sonnet 29: Structure and Imagery
Sonnet 29, "I think of thee," follows a traditional sonnet structure but infuses it with rich, evocative imagery drawn from nature. The poem begins with the speaker's thoughts entwining around the beloved like vines around a tree, creating a powerful visual metaphor for the all-consuming nature of love.
Vocabulary: Twine - to wind or coil around; Bud - to begin to grow or develop
The use of plant imagery continues throughout the sonnet, with the speaker comparing her beloved to a palm tree. This choice of imagery is significant for several reasons:
- It evokes exoticism and unfamiliarity, suggesting a new type of love.
- Palm trees are associated with victory in Roman symbolism, implying their love is triumphant.
- In biblical contexts, particularly the Song of Solomon, palm imagery is linked to physical love.
Example: The line "O my palm-tree" serves multiple symbolic purposes, representing life in a barren landscape , faith and belief, and the exotic nature of their relationship.
The poem's structure supports its thematic development, moving from the initial imagery of entwining thoughts to the final lines where the speaker is too close to even think of the beloved, overwhelmed by their presence.
Definition: Enjambment - the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause
The use of enjambment throughout the sonnet creates a sense of flowing, uncontained emotion, mirroring the speaker's overwhelming feelings.
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Analysis of Sonnet 29: Love's Transformative Power
The final third of Sonnet 29 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning showcases the transformative power of love and physical presence. The poem shifts from the initial longing and imagination to the reality of being with the beloved.
Quote: "I will not have my thoughts instead of thee / Who art dearer, better!"
This declaration emphasizes the superiority of actual presence over mere thoughts or fantasies. The speaker demands renewal of the beloved's presence, using strong, active language:
- "Renew thy presence"
- "Rustle thy boughs"
- "Set thy trunk all bare"
These commands create a sense of urgency and desire for unmediated connection.
Highlight: The poem's conclusion, "I do not think of thee - I am too near thee," paradoxically expresses the ultimate closeness by the inability to think about the beloved.
This final line encapsulates the poem's journey from distant longing to immediate presence. It suggests that true intimacy transcends thought, becoming a state of being.
The sonnet's structure and imagery work together to convey the overwhelming nature of love:
- The extended tree metaphor evolves throughout the poem.
- The shift from "wild vines" to a "palm-tree" suggests the growth and maturation of love.
- The final image of "bands of greenery" dropping away implies the stripping away of barriers between lovers.
Vocabulary: Insphere - to enclose or contain within or as if within a sphere
This rich imagery and emotional progression make Sonnet 29 a quintessential example of Romantic movement love poetry in the Victorian era, blending passionate feeling with structured poetic form.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 29: Context and Composition
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, a prominent English poet of the Romantic movement living in the Victorian era, composed Sonnet 29 as part of her collection of 44 love sonnets. These sonnets gained immense popularity during her lifetime and continue to be widely quoted today.
The poem, titled "I think of thee," was written for her husband, Robert Browning. Their love story is notable, as Elizabeth was older than Robert and married later in life. This personal context adds depth to the poem's exploration of love and intimacy.
Highlight: The sonnet was initially not intended for publication, making it a deeply personal expression of Elizabeth's feelings for Robert.
The poem's narrative arc moves from intense longing for an absent lover to the overwhelming joy of physical presence. This transition reflects the poet's emotional journey and the transformative power of love.
Quote: "I think of thee!- my thoughts do twine and bud / About thee, as wild vines, about a tree"
These opening lines set the tone for the poem's exploration of love's all-encompassing nature, using vivid natural imagery to convey the speaker's emotions.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user