Asked by mani

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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How does the poem's use of repetition contribute to the tone of the poem?



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Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
The repeated phrase "I love thee" (and the related anaphora “I love thee to…” / “I love thee with…”) gives the poem a steady, insistent rhythm that feels like both a counting and a vow. By restating the same declaration over and over, Browning creates a tone that is earnest, devotional, and intimate — as if the speaker is quietly but insistently cataloguing every facet of her devotion.

Repetition also builds intensity and cumulative force: each repetition adds a new qualifier or image (depth, everyday need, freedom, purity, passion, childhood faith), so the tone moves from measured and contemplative to more passionate and transcendent. Finally, the refrain-like quality lends a prayerlike, timeless feel — the love is constant, unwavering, and even beyond death.