"The face of all the world is changed, I

think,"

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

• Born in 1806 at Coxhoe Hall, Durham, England• The oldest of twelve children .

• Elizabeth was educated at home, learning Greek, Latin, and several modern languages at an early age.

• In 1819, her father arranged for the printing of one of her poems (she was 13 at the time.)

In 1821, Elizabeth injured her spine as a result of a fall. she seemingly became a permanent invalid. She spent the majority of her time in her room writing poetry.

In 1844, Robert Browning wrote to Elizabeth admiring her Poems. He continued to write to her.

Elizabeth's father disapproved of the engagement

In 1846, Elizabeth and Robert were secretly wed. Soon the couple ran off to Italy.

She continued to live in the villa of Casa Guidi for the remainder of her life.

• Elizabeth's best known book of poems was published Sonnets

from the Portuguese. but a sequence of 44 sonnets recording the growth of her love for Robert.

Elizabeth's poems have a diction and rhythm evoking an attractive. Many of her poems she considered unjust social conditions. She also wrote poems appealing for political freedom.

The face of all the world is changed, I think,

Since first I heard the footsteps of thy soul

Move still, oh, still, beside me, as they stole

Betwixt me and the dreadful outer brink

Of obvious death, where I, who thought to sink,

Was caught up into love, and taught the whole

Of life in a new rhythm. The cup of dole

 

God gave for baptism, I am fain to drink,

And praise its sweetness, Sweet, with thee anear.

The names of country, heaven, are changed away

For where thou art or shall be, there or here;

And this . . . this lute and song . . . loved yesterday,

(The singing angels know) are only dear

Because thy name moves right in what they say

• These lines are taken from Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “The face of all the world is changed.” It was written in the Victorian Era.

• There are many victorian glimpses throughout the poem. First, there is a sense of spiritual doubt , for example, “Obvious death, where I, who thought to sink,!”(5). Second , there is a sense of realism, for example , “God gave for baptism, I am fain to drink! ”(8). Third , there is a sense of nstoliga , for example , “And this . . . this lute and song . . . loved yesterday! ”(12).

There are many stylistic devices in the poem. First, there is alliteration for example, “dreadful”(4). Second, there is a metaphor, for example, “The cup of dole” (7). Third, there is anaphora for example, “sweetness, Sweet”(9).