Monday, March 31, 2008

Introduction to "When our two souls stand up" by Elizabeth Barret Browning

1- Browning, Elizabeth, Barrett." When our Two Soulds Stand Up." The Norton Introduction to Poetry. J. Paul Hunter, Alison Booth, and Kelly J. Mays. 9th edition. New York: Norton, 2007. 99.

The poem can be viewed here: http://www.amherst.edu/~rjyanco94/literature/elizabethbarrettbrowning/poems/sonnetsfromtheportuguese/whenourtwosoulsstanduperectandstrong.html

2- This poem was written for Elizabeths husband Robert Browning, and it is a sonnet from her well known sonnets from the portugese. This poem is written during the victorian era which was awkward since those times in England were filled with much religous oppression and freedom of thought. This sonnet is basically a love note to her husband explaining to him how their love is so strong that even in the hereafter they will still be together. She feels that the love she has for this man is timeless and can withstand the test of time.

3- I really liked this sonnet because, it shows the authors passion. It is obvious she was very in love with her husband Robert Browning but the large statements she was making made her passion fact. I dont know how to explain the feeling that came over me while reading this poem but it makes a person think about there own relationship and compare to what Browning felt towards her husband. The last line drew me in to the poem and made me want to read it over and over again. good poem.

4- This poem can lightly be comapred to William Shakespeare's "Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore" Even though, this poem does not directly compare with Browning's they both make a statement about time and death. Browning explains how she just wants to live in love forever and even in death. She even, realizes that she does not have all the time in the world to feel this feeling. In Shakespeare's poem he makes a statement about how minuets and time go by to shape the future. As i said it can be compared with Browining's poem but not in a great way.

Shakespeare, William. "Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore." The Norton Introduction to Poetry. J. Paul Hunter, Alison Booth, and Kelly J. Mays. 9th edition. New York: Norton, 2007. 215

1 comment:

STBrooks said...

I really like this poem because in my Victorian lit. class we have discussed the odd relashionship between Elizabeth Browning and her husband Robert. Because Elizebeth's poems and prose that I have read have been interesting as well as entertaining.