Analysis of Sonnet XXXIX: Because Thou Hast the Power

Elizabeth Barrett Browning 1806 (Kelloe) – 1861 (Florence)



Because thou hast the power and own'st the grace
To look through and behind this mask of me
(Against which years have beat thus blanchingly
With their rains), and behold my soul's true face,
The dim and weary witness of life's race,
Because thou hast the faith and love to see,
Through that same soul's distracting lethargy,
The patient angel waiting for a place
In the new Heavens,--because nor sin nor woe,
Nor God's infliction, nor death's neighbourhood,
Nor all which others viewing, turn to go,
Nor all of which makes me tired of all, self-viewed,--
Nothing repels thee,...Dearest, teach me so
To pour out gratitude, as thou dost, good!


Scheme ABCAABBADEDEDE
Poetic Form
Metre 011101001101 1110011111 01111111 1110011111 0101010111 0111010111 1111010100 0101010101 00110011111 11010111 1111010111 111111101111 10011111 111101111
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 649
Words 115
Sentences 3
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 36
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 498
Words per stanza (avg) 110
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 26, 2023

36 sec read
81

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett Browning was one of the most prominent English poets of the Victorian era. more…

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