Question

Assignment in progress for 1070 9813 Language Arts 8 B
Due March 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Sonnet 43
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
1850
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Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) was an English poet during the Romantic Movement. "Sonnet 43" is one of the most famous poems written in the English language. This poem was originally published in 1850 in a collection called Sonnets from the Portuguese. "My Little Portuguese" is a nickname Browning used for her husband.
As you read, take notes on the tone and mood of this poem.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

Sonnet 43 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is in the public domain.


Unless otherwise noted, this content is licensed under theCC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

Notes
Ideal (noun) : perfect or the best possible
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Assessment Questions
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PART B: Which of the following quotes best support the answer to Part A?

A. "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." (Line 1)
B. "I love thee to the depth and breadth and height / My soul can reach" (Lines 2-3)
C. "I love thee freely, as men strive for right. / I love thee purely, as they turn from praise." (Lines 7-8)
D. "I love thee with the passion put to use / In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith." (Lines 9-10)
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Answer 1

B.
Those lines ("I love thee to the depth and breadth and height / My soul can reach") directly show the speaker’s love as vast and almost spiritual — limitless in scope — which best supports the idea that her love is immense and transcendent.