Introduction to Sonnet XXIV

Welcome! In this chapter, we explore one of the most famous poems from Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s (EBB) collection, Sonnets from the Portuguese. This specific poem, known by its opening line ‘Let the world’s sharpness, like a closing knife’, is a beautiful and intense look at how love can act as a shield against the difficulties of life. As part of your Unit 4 Section B studies, we will focus on how EBB uses the Victorian sonnet form to express deep, personal feelings while also considering how the poem fits into the wider world of Victorian literature.

The Context: Why was it written? (AO3)

Understanding the background of Elizabeth Barrett Browning is essential for AO3. It helps us see the "sharpness" she was writing about.

A Private Romance

EBB wrote these sonnets during her secret courtship with the poet Robert Browning. At the time, she was a famous but reclusive poet, often confined to her room due to poor health and a very controlling father.
  • The Title: She originally intended these poems to be private. When she decided to publish them, she called them Sonnets from the Portuguese to make it look like she had just translated them from another language. This gave her a "mask" to hide behind while sharing her most intimate feelings.
  • Victorian Expectations: In the Victorian era, women were often expected to be the "Angel in the House"—pure, domestic, and submissive. However, EBB’s poetry often shows a much more passionate and intellectually equal side of love.

The Theme of Sanctuary

For EBB, the "world" often felt dangerous or restrictive. Love wasn't just a romantic feeling; it was a sanctuary—a safe place where she could escape her illness and her father’s strictness.

Form and Structure (AO2)

How a poem is built tells us a lot about its meaning. EBB uses a traditional Petrarchan Sonnet structure, but she puts her own Victorian twist on it.

The Octave and the Sestet

A Petrarchan sonnet is divided into two main parts:
  1. The Octave (The first 8 lines): This usually sets up a problem or a situation. Here, EBB describes the "sharpness" of the world and how it tries to push in on the lovers.
  2. The Sestet (The final 6 lines): This usually provides a resolution or a change in perspective (called the volta). In this poem, the focus shifts to the inner safety and "quietness" that the lovers share.
Quick Tip: Look for the "turn" in the poem. Notice how the imagery moves from the "outside" (the knife, the world) to the "inside" (the souls of the lovers). This structure mirrors the idea of retreating into a private space.

Language and Imagery (AO2)

EBB uses powerful contrasts to show the difference between the harsh world and her soft, enduring love.

The "Closing Knife"

The poem opens with a startling simile: the world’s sharpness is compared to a closing knife.
  • This suggests that the world is not just cold, but actively dangerous and aggressive.
  • A "closing" knife implies a sense of being trapped or cut off. It creates a feeling of claustrophobia (the fear of closed-in spaces).

The Symbol of the Lily

The poet uses the image of a lily to represent the lovers.
  • Lilies are traditionally symbols of purity and fragility.
  • By placing the lily in the middle of the "sharpness," EBB highlights how precious and vulnerable their love is. However, the poem suggests that because they are together, the "knife" cannot actually hurt the heart of the flower.

Light and Spirit

As the poem progresses, the imagery becomes less physical and more spiritual. She talks about their "souls" standing up "erect and strong." This suggests that while their bodies might be fragile, their love gives them a spiritual strength that the physical world cannot touch.

Different Interpretations (AO5)

In your exam, you need to show that you understand there is more than one way to read a poem. This is AO5.

Interpretation 1: A Poem of Female Empowerment

Some critics argue that this poem is a radical act for a Victorian woman. By choosing her own "world" with Robert and rejecting the "world" defined by her father and society, EBB is claiming agency (the power to make her own choices). The love is not just something that happens to her; it is something she actively uses to protect herself.

Interpretation 2: A Poem of Escapism

Other readers might see the poem as a form of escapism. They might argue that EBB is so overwhelmed by her illness and the "sharpness" of life that she is retreating into a fantasy of perfect love. From this perspective, the poem is a way of ignoring reality rather than facing it.

Interpretation 3: The Spiritual vs. The Secular

A third view focuses on the religious undertones. In the Victorian era, faith was often under threat from new scientific ideas. Some interpret the "world’s sharpness" as the harsh reality of a godless or materialistic world, while the love between the couple represents a divine, spiritual truth that survives everything.

Key Takeaways for Your Revision

  • AO1 (Expression): Use terms like Petrarchan sonnet, simile, volta, and imagery.
  • AO2 (Analysis): Focus on the contrast between the violent imagery (the knife) and the peaceful imagery (the lily/the soul).
  • AO3 (Context): Remember EBB’s life as an "invalid" and her secret marriage. The poem is about finding safety from a restrictive Victorian society.
  • AO5 (Interpretations): Think about whether the poem is about strength, escape, or spirituality.
Note: For more on how Victorian poets handle themes of love and isolation, you might want to look at Grief by the same author or Meeting at Night by Robert Browning.