Barrett Browning uses an extended metaphor of vines to convey how separation in a relationship can be corruptive.
She uses natural imagery to reveal how reunification can be rejuvenating in a relationship.
She uses declaratives and imperatives to convey her urgency to be reunified with her lover.
She uses exclamatory sentences to suggest the speaker finds the intensity of her thoughts emotionally overwhelming.
She uses euphemistic language to convey her sexual and physical desire.

Common misconception

The extended metaphor of trees and vines represent her absent lover.

The extended metaphor of a tree symbolises her absent lover whereas the extended metaphor of the vines symbolises her fantastical thoughts of her lover while he is away from her.

Keywords

Declaratives - statements expressing facts or opinions
Imperatives - commands or requests that begin with a verb, giving direct instructions
Rejuvenating - restoring energy, vitality, or youthfulness; refreshing and invigorating
Natural imagery - descriptions that use elements from nature, like landscapes, weather, or living things
Euphemism - substituting a mild or indirect expression for something that is considered rude or taboo

When annotating the poem together, use two different colours to colour-code key quotations related to both trees and vines. This will enable students to track the journey of these extended metaphors across the poem.

Teacher tip

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

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.

It is rumoured that Barrett Browning's poem 'Sonnet 29' is autobiographical. This means...

Correct answer: it is influenced by her own relationship with her husband.

it is written about her best friend's relationship with her husband.

it is entirely fictional and based on characters from the Bible.

it is written about characters from a famous Greek myth.

it was translated from a Portuguese folk tale.

Q2.

In 'Sonnet 29', Barrett Browning presents a __________ view of love.

bitter and resentful

sad and heart-breaking

Correct answer: joyous and uplifting

curious and conflicted

anxious and fearful

Q3.

In the final line of 'Sonnet 29', the speaker says "I do not think of thee - I am too near thee". Why does she say this?

Her lover has died and will never return so she avoids thinking about him.

She refuses to think about him as he has left her and broken her heart.

Correct answer: When the couple are reunited and she no longer relies on her fantasy thoughts.

Her obsessive thoughts have driven her insane.

Q4.

During which century did Elizabeth Barrett Browning live and write?

16th

17th

18th

Correct answer: 19th

20th

Q5.

Sonnets were typically written about which topic?

Correct Answer: love

Q6.

Read this quotation from 'Sonnet 29': "my thoughts do twine and bud". Which word class are the words "twine' and "bud"?

nouns

adjectives

adverbs

Correct answer: verbs

prepositions

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

In 'Sonnet 29', the extended metaphor of vines is used to symbolise...

the speaker's lover.

the sadness felt by the speaker when her lover is away from her.

Correct answer: the speaker's thoughts of her love when he is absent.

the joy felt by the speaker when her lover returns.

Q2.

In 'Sonnet 29', the speaker describes how her lover's return allows her to "breathe [...] a new air" which presents the lover as a presence.

mournful

exciting

overbearing

Correct answer: rejuvenating

draining

Q3.

Match these methods to the correct definition.

Correct Answer:euphemism,substituting a mild, indirect expression for something that is taboo

substituting a mild, indirect expression for something that is taboo

Correct Answer:natural imagery,descriptions including elements from nature, like weather or animals

descriptions including elements from nature, like weather or animals

Correct Answer:declarative,statements expressing facts or opinions

statements expressing facts or opinions

Correct Answer:imperative,commands or requests that begin with a verb

commands or requests that begin with a verb

Correct Answer:exclamatory sentence,conveys strong emotion or excitement

conveys strong emotion or excitement

Q4.

Match each of these methods to the correct quotation from 'Sonnet 29'.

Correct Answer:euphemism,"set thy trunk all bare"

"set thy trunk all bare"

Correct Answer:natural imagery,"my thoughts do twine and bud"

"my thoughts do twine and bud"

Correct Answer:declarative,"I do not think of thee - I am too near thee"

"I do not think of thee - I am too near thee"

Correct Answer:imperative,"Renew thy presence"

"Renew thy presence"

Correct Answer:exclamatory sentence,"I think of thee!"

"I think of thee!"

Q5.

Which of these quotations from 'Sonnet 29' best supports this topic sentence? 'The speaker’s thoughts of her love spread quickly, obscuring what he is really like.'

"let these bands of greenery which insphere thee / Drop heavily down"

Correct answer: "wild vines [...] Put out broad leaves, and soon there's nought to see"

"Rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk bare"

"breathe within thy shadow a new air"

"I will not have my thoughts instead of thee / Who are dearer, better!"

Q6.

Which of the topic sentences below best links to this quotation from 'Sonnet 29'? "Renew thy presence; as a strong tree should"

The speaker views her lover as weak and wishes he'd stop avoiding her/

The speaker feels that her thoughts of her lover are overwhelming.

Correct answer: The speaker longs to be reunited with her lover and feel the power of his love.

The speaker prefers the thoughts of her lover to the real thing.

When the speaker is with her lover, she does not need her fantasy thoughts.