Early life/education
When and where was Elizabeth Barrett Browning born?
March 6, 1806, at Coxhoe Hall, Durham, England
What is the main theme of sonnet 43?
Deep and unconditional love
(Explanation: The poem reads as a letter, and it lists the many different ways that the speaker loves the recipient. This shows intense and genuine affection.)
Who is the speaker grieving in “Mother and Poet”?
Her sons
(Explanation: The poem focuses on her grief for the sons who died in war.)
What was the nickname given to Elizabeth Browning from her husband Robert Browning?
My little Portuguese
(Explanation: Robert Browning called his wife,"my little Portuguese" due to her dark hair and dark complexion.)
How many siblings did Browning have?
Eleven
(Explanation: She was the oldest of twelve children with eight boys and four girls.)
What is the phrase that is repeated throughout the poem to emphasize love?
“I love thee”
(Explanation: The repetition strengthens the intensity of her feelings.)
How many sons is the speaker mourning?
Two
(Explanation: She lost two sons fighting in the war.)
At what age and to whom did Elizabeth secretly get married?
Elizabeth was 40 years old when she secretly married the poet Robert Browning. Explanation: Their marriage was in private to escape her father’s intense and controlling nature.
Where did Browning receive her early education?
At home
(Explanation: She was homeschooled, which allowed her to study advanced books and develop her writing independently.)
How does the poem show that love is endless?
It continues even after death
(The line “I shall but love thee better after death” expresses eternal love.)
What emotion conflicts with the mother’s grief?
Pride
(Explanation: She feels proud of their sacrifice but devastated as a mother.)
Where did Elizabeth spend most of her married life and how was she perceived there?
She lived in Florence, Italy, where she was celebrated as a heroine.
Explanation: She gained local respect for writing powerful poetry that stood up Italian unification.
Which famous epic poem did Browning read before the age of 10?
Paradise lost by John Milton
(Explanation: Being home schooled at such a young age allowed Elizabeth to explore literature at her own pace.)
What word completes this line: “I shall but love thee better after ____”?
Death
(Explanation:The speaker claims her love will continue even after death.)
What country were the sons fighting for?
Italy
(Explanation: The poem is set during the Italian struggle for independence.)
Which famous poet kept a portrait of Browning?
Emily Dickinson
(Explanation: Dickinson gained a lot of inspiration from Browning and was a SUPER mega fan of her work.)
Who is the famous poet that had a portrait of Browning in her bedroom?
Emily Dickinson
(Explanation: Emily Dickinson admired Elizabeth Barrett Browning and kept a portrait of her in her bedroom as a source of inspiration.)
What line is the volta in sonnet 43?
Line 9: "I love thee with the passion put to use/
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith."
(Explanation: The poem shifts from the speaker listing ways she loves to describing the deeper nature of her love.)
What theme captures the mother’s feelings toward her sons’ deaths?
Maternal grief and patriotic sacrifice
(Explanation: She balances sorrow for loss with pride in their heroism.)
What was the name of Elizabeth’s famous pet?
Flush
(Explanation: Flush became famous and was eventually the subject of a biography by Virginia Woolf.)