Pages

23 Nov: "Sonnets from the Portuguese 1" by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING


I thought once how Theocritus had sung 
Of the sweet years, the dear and wished for years, 
Who each one in a gracious hand appears 
To bear a gift for mortals, old or young: 
And, as I mused it in his antique tongue, 
I saw, in gradual vision through my tears, 
The sweet, sad years, the melancholy years, 
Those of my own life, who by turns had flung 
A shadow across me. Straightway I was 'ware, 
So weeping, how a mystic Shape did move 
Behind me, and drew me backward by the hair, 
And a voice said in mastery, while I strove, ... 
Guess now who holds thee?'—Death,' I said. But there, 
The silver answer rang ... Not Death, but Love.'

4 comments:

  1. Theocritus (/θiːˈɒkrɪtəs/; Greek: Θεόκριτος, Theokritos; fl. c. 270 BC), the creator of ancient Greek bucolic poetry, flourished in the 3rd century BC.

    This is neat- she is describing her experience and reaction to reading a poem. An emotional reaction of the past and future emotion of the future.
    In the conclusion she relates back to our wonderful theme- what comes after death? "Not Death, but Love".
    Why a "silver" answer? A silver bell ringing? Sound of purity? I feel as though there are a lot of references in the Bible about silver bells.
    She also writes of her timeline- "the sad years, the melancholy years" and how pieces of regret turn into a hope for the future. A new perspective of life through her love with Robert Browning. Love saved her!
    I read your comment about love being an emotion. In so many of the poems we have been reading, love seems to be an avenue in which a some sort of crossing over occurs. I read this poem last night before I created my own timeline and it was remarkable the similarities. As I am looking at those "melancholy" years of learning and poor choices, selfish choices from years 20-24, there seems to be an "opening up" after. A bell, a rainbow....when I met Jared. Love. It seems to be a division of the soul! An emotion, yes, but MORE...a mindset. An intention. A new path, a new light, a freedom, a life, a Way, the Way?

    Do you see any similar "openings" in your timeline? (love-based or otherwise?)

    Browning was born in 1806 and these poems were supposed to be written in 1845-1846, making her approximately 40 years old when she describes these feelings. Age seems a prime player in this game...

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is strange why she first expected death. I looked it up and thought she might have been sick. I couldn't find anything.

    It is like the secret. Coming from the shadows of her sweet, sad, melancholy years. She also uses sweet years, which is overwhelmed by the two negative words.

    They also had a son.

    I cannot relate to this sensation. My enlightenments have been of the mind. I can think of a good moment when one could have occurred but I don't remember such an experience or awareness.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Analysis from https://britlitwiki.wikispaces.com/Sonnets+from+the+Portuguese

    Browning starts out by touching on the work of the Greek writer Theocritus. Browning had an extensive knowledge of the classic writers, having studied the Greek language itself and keeping close correspondence with Greek scholars. This first sonnet is an excellent stepping stone for the progression of emotions that will be experienced through the next 43. It expresses the depression and sadness that she had felt for most of her life, due to her extreme illness and isolation. However, the "Shape" mentioned was not the impending feeling of death as she thought, but the surprising sensation of falling in love with Robert Browning.

    ReplyDelete
  4. That changes the poem. The depression is a key to this poem. Love being the hero that saves the narrator from the depths of depression, not death as may have been expected.

    ReplyDelete