Question

3. Read Sonnet 13 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning now. It is located on page 76 of your Journeys anthology. What does this poem say the beloved wants the speaker to do? How does she respond to his request? What does her response suggest about her and about her feelings for her beloved? Use examples from the text in your response.

Answer 1

1. The poem claims that the beloved wants the speaker to express her feelings for him in a poem (to fashion into speech the love I bear thee):

And wilt thou have me fashion into speech

The love I bear thee, finding words enough,

And hold the torch out, while the winds are rough,

Between our faces, to cast light on each?

2. She responds by saying she is incapable of doing it (I drop it at thy feet), as her feelings are too intense and she cannot put them into words (in words, of love hid in me out of reach):

I drop it at thy feet. I cannot teach

My hand to hold my spirit so far off

From myself—me—that I should bring thee proof

In words, of love hid in me out of reach.

3. The answer suggests that the relationship is new and that she is greatly in love. However, she wants to wait for a moment when she has regained tranquility before she declares her feelings. She also wants to avoid losing herself in the emotion.