Compare the ways the poets use structure to develop ideas about a relationship in ‘Sonnet 43’ and one other poem (36 marks) Carol Ann Duffy and Elizabeth Barrett Browning use a range of structural techniques to develop Ideas about the relationships within the poems ‘Chuckwalla’ and ‘Sonnet 43’. Both ‘Chuckwalla and ‘Sonnet 43’ are written In the form of sonnets. Although ‘Quadric is in the form of a loose sonnet so it does not follow the typical conventions of a traditional sonnet, but both have the same effect.
In Sonnet 43′, Elizabeth Barrett Browning does not follow one of the traditional conventions of sonnet, which is to contain a rhyming couplet at the end, so instead of this, she ends with the phrase “love thee better after death”. The use of the word “death” at the end of the sonnet Illustrates to the reader that the poet has hopes and aspirations that their relationship and love towards each other goes beyond death and that love never ends or dies.
Although typical connotations of the word “death” would be loss, annalist and the end of a relationship, here Barrett Browning uses it to illustrate her unconditional and everlasting love for her partner. This can be paralleled to ‘Quadric’ whereby a rhyming couplet at the end Is again not used but alternatively, repetition Is evident: “take this… And this… And this… And this”. The fact that repetition has been used, emphasis the speaker’s desperation and possible weakening as the poem develops along with the use of the action verb “take” which suggests a sense of aggression, perhaps illustrating a fighting scene.
The structure of ‘Sonnet 43’ reflects the typical conventions of a sonnet, in terms of the line number equaling fourteen. By writing in the form of a sonnet, Elizabeth Barrett Borrowing’s poetic skills can be seen because it restricts what can be said about love and at the same time also indicates to the reader that her relationship/ feelings about her partner have been effectively worded to fit Into the style of a traditional sonnet. The first line of “How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways” trait away indicates to the reader that this sonnet is going to be primarily a list with aspects of her relationship/ love towards her husband being incorporated such as “I love thee to the level of everyday” and “l love thee purely’. The fact that a list has been used by the poet here, shows that her relationship has been Incorporated Into everything that she thinks and does, which again suggests to the reader the extent of her love towards her partner.
This can be compared to ‘Quadric; which contains sixteen lines although some of them are split, single lines which shows the AP between the speaker on one end of the phone and the reaction on the other. Therefore, the use of these single, split lines means that the poem loosely fits the traditional fourteen-line sonnet form. For example, the split line of “You choose your spot, then blast me/through the heart” seems Like It Is one line but the use of their relationship.
Duffy uses enjambment here to illustrate action and the nature of the relationship within her poem. The use of split single lines literally fragments the poem, reflecting the physical and emotional distance in the speaker’s fragmented ND broken relationship. In contrast, in Borrowing’s “Sonnet 43”, the continuation of almost every sentence over a line-break epitomizes the continual love felt by the speaker for her beloved and helps to the poem to read smoothly, creating a leisurely ‘Quadric is written mainly in free verse, with some irregular rhyme, not pace. Allowing the expected ABA, ABA rhyming pattern. As a result of this, it breaks the form of a conventional sonnet, which, again, is reflective of the unconventional and broken relationship in the poem. However, there are some references to rhyme within the poem, such as the use of “groan” and “alone” which is effective as it relates loneliness to pain. At this point in the poem, it implies to the reader that the relationship is not working out and that the speaker is unhappy or feels neglected in this relationship.
This contrasts with the typical rhyming scheme in ‘Sonnet 46’, whereby the conventional rhyming pattern is applied, until the last few lines. In the last rhyme of the poem, “breath” and “death” are used. These are effective as they are contrast of life and death and so this implies that the poet will love their partner during their lifetime together and also after death. This shows the strength of their relationship and the love that the women has for her partner.
Barrett Borrowing’s choice to place the words “breadth” and “death” at the end of lines 12 and 14 further accentuates their meaning, and draws the reader’s attention to the seriousness of the poet’s feelings. Similarly, in “Quadric’, several lines end with dramatic language, such as “blast me” and “l reel” at the end of lines 8 and 13. The placement of these powerful verbs adds emphasis to the action taking place in the poem and the emotions being felt.
In addition, repetition is evident in both of these poems, which contributes to the effectiveness of the structure of the poem and the development of the relationships involved, because it raises questions and thoughts to the reader as to why a certain word or phrase has been repeated and what can be inferred from its repetition. For example, in “Sonnet 43” the phrase “l love” is repeated frequently throughout at the start of many lines to imply to the deader the underlying message or theme of the poem: a declaration her love to her husband by describing love in many different ways.
Each time the phrase “l love” is repeated, the strong relationship and feelings of affection between her and her husband are emphasized and therefore their bond and attachment towards each other becomes stronger as the poem progresses. Repetition is also used in ‘Quadric, in particularly, the phrase “and this” at the end of the poem. However, instead of the feeling of aggression becoming stronger, it instead gets weaker.
