Analysing how Browning presents love in 'Sonnet 43'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can understand how Barrett Browning uses language, form and structure to present her love as bountiful.
Key learning points
- Barrett Browning wrote this poem to her future husband to express her deep love for him.
- Barrett Browning begins the poem by expressing her love in a more abstract and unquantifiable way.
- In the sestet, Barrett Browning finds more personal and specific ways to express (and measure) her love.
- The image of a sun arguably represents the idea that her lover brings warmth, light, sustenance and purpose to her life.
- Barrett Browning’s use of imagery conveys her admiration for, and adoration of her future husband.
Keywords
To liberate - to set something free
Unquantifiable - impossible to measure
Bountiful - abundant and endless
To evoke - to make someone imagine or feel something
Defiant - a refusal to obey somebody or something
Common misconception
Pupils often fail to notice or appreciate how defiant this poem is at the end.
In saying that she will love her future husband "better" after death, Barrett Browning defies her father and any cosmic force which may try to prevent the couple from being together. Barrett Browning's passion and commitment to Browning is evident.
Teacher tip
An interesting activity could be to give the students the declarations of love that Barrett Browning makes and ask them to rank them in strength - which are the strongest and most convincing declarations and why? This will generate interesting discussion about the structure of the poem.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the Eduqas poetry anthology for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.When Barrett Browning wrote 'Sonnet 43', who was it for at the time of writing?
Q2.Barrett Browning was defiant against her father's wishes when she married Robert Browning. What does 'defiant' mean?
Q3.What connotations do we often have of the sun?
Q4. is the use of words to create pictures in the minds of readers.
Q5.How does 'Sonnet 43' open?
Q6.Match the components of a Petrarchan sonnet up to their explanations.
introduces an idea, problem, question or an argument
responds to the questions or ideas introduced in the beginning
marks a shift in tone in the poem
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.If something is 'bountiful' it is...
Q2.What images in 'Sonnet 43' could represent the idea that Barrett Browning's lover is the centre of her world and brings her life?
Q3.In 'Sonnet 43', Barrett Browning feels her love is 'unquantifiable'. What does this mean?
Q4.A Petrarchan sonnet begins with an 8 line section called an octet. It often poses a problem or introduces an idea. Which quotation suggests a problem at the start of 'Sonnet 43'?
Q5.A is a shift in tone in a sonnet.
Q6.The of a sonnet responds to the problem posed at the start of the sonnet in the octet.
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Analysing how Browning presents love in 'Sonnet 43', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Analysing how Browning presents love in 'Sonnet 43', 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 Poetry anthology (Assessment until summer 2026) unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.