How is Love described in 'How do I love Thee?' by Elizabeth Barrett-Browning and 'Remember' by Christina Rossetti?

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How is Love described in ‘How do I love Thee?’ by Elizabeth Barrett-Browning and ‘Remember’ by Christina Rossetti?

This essay shall be devoted to the understanding and comparison of Elizabeth Barrett-Browning’s poem, ‘How do I love Thee?’ and the influential work of Christina Rossetti’s, ‘Remember’. Each boasting passionate lives, their work is somewhat reflected in their past.

        

As a notable influence dominating many of Rossetti’s actions; her family held extreme significance. Raised in an Italian household as an Anglo-Catholic, two later engagements were broke off due to religious differences. Although home educated, her first work gained recognition when accepted in publication by a magazine titled, ‘The Germ’ under the pseudonym Ellen Alleyne. Inspired by religion, ‘Remember’ allowed her exploration into earthly love and nearness to death. Born into the turbulent times of 1830; an era claimed by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood of seven young artists desiring a new revolution in expression of art and literature. Christina’s own brother; Dante Gabriel Rossetti, was one of the seven Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood members, allowing her to become portrayed as the model for her brother's picture ‘The Girlhood of Mary Virgin’ in 1849. She died a recluse; concentrating on her religious welfare.

        

Tremendous lives obtained by both Rossetti and Browning; their poetic imaginations were sparked off by their experiences of romantic love and tragic illnesses. This essay will further explore comparatively two controversial poems.

Grieving his lover’s known death; Rossetti wrote ‘Remember’ as a message of reassurance and gratitude where ‘How do I love Thee?’ shows Browning’s love being both eternal and unconditional for Robert; as she is overwhelmed by the sheer power of love.

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Euphemising death to, ‘gone away’ during the first stanza of ‘Remember’, Rossetti chooses a softer approach when referring to her death whilst reinforcing the repetition of, ‘Remember’. Browning begins with a regular quatrain of her Petrarchan sonnet, also using her title in the opening stanza, ‘How do I love Thee?’ Seemingly rhetorical; she proceeds to answer progressively, ‘Let me count the ways’. Rossetti later includes further reference to ‘gone away’ by concluding with ‘into the silent land’, also touching upon personification. Desiring to live, ‘nor I half turning to go yet turning to stay’, she states both awareness and ...

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