Understanding the poem ‘Sonnet 29’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Barrett Browning presents passion within a relationship.
Key learning points
- Barrett Browning conveys her overwhelming wish to be reunited with her love.
- Barrett Browning describes a relationship which although emotionally close, is physically distant.
- Barrett Browning describes how her thoughts of her lover sometimes obscure and corrupt her reality.
- The poem is partially autobiographical, written during her courtship with Robert Browning, who later became her husband.
- Barrett Browning's life experiences suggest she had positive views about the power of love.
Keywords
Overwhelming - causing a strong emotional or physical response.
Sacrifice - giving up something valuable for a higher purpose, often involving personal loss or hardship.
Obscure - lacks clarity, not easily understood; kept from sight, concealed.
Corrupt - dishonest behaviour, typically for personal gain or to influence others.
Courtship - the process of getting to know a romantic partner before establishing a romantic relationship.
Common misconception
In this poem, the speaker mourns for their lover after they have died.
This could be a valid interpretation but there is no evidence to suggest the lover is definitely dead. In fact, the volta in L.9 has the speaker demand he return which implies that there is a chance they could be reunited with one another.
Teacher tip
You can ask students to read examples of the letters between Elizabeth Barrett Browning and her husband. They give a powerful sense of the relationship.
Equipment
You will need access to the poem 'Sonnet 29 - 'I think of thee!' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This can be found in the AQA Love and Relationships Poetry Anthology.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sexual content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Barrett Browning wrote 'Sonnet 29' during the Victorian era. This society was known for being...
Q2.What does the word symbolism mean?
Q3.Sonnets are poems usually written about...
Q4.Which of these is an example of an imperative sentence?
Q5.Which of these is an example of tentative language?
Q6.The word 'thee' means...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.'Sonnet 29 - I think of thee!' was taken from a collection of poems entitled...
Q2.What does the word 'obscure' mean?
Q3.Following Barrett Browning's courtship with poet Robert Browning, the couple married and eloped to Italy. What were the consequences of this for Barrett Browning?
Q4.Below are three lines from 'Sonnet 29 - I think of thee!'. One is from the beginning, one from the middle and one from the end. Starting with first, put them into chronological order.
Q5.Which of these quotations from 'Sonnet 29' imply that the speaker's fantasy thought of her love spiral out of control while he is away?
Q6.Which of these quotations from 'Sonnet 29' present a positive, uplifting view of love?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Understanding the poem ‘Sonnet 29’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Understanding the poem ‘Sonnet 29’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the 'Love and Relationships' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.