Emily Barrett Browning

IF THOU MUST LOVE ME

The speaker is a woman who warns her lover about falling in love with her for the wrong reasons.

The audience of the poem is her “Belovèd” (7), influencing the tone of the poem.

CONTEXT

Tone•First 12 lines•Overall tone is harsh and cautionary•Filled with anxiety

• “If thou must love me” (1)• “Do not say” (2)• “Neither love me for thine own dear pity’s wiping my cheeks dry” (9-10)

Tone•Last 2 lines•Tone changes to jovial and hopeful•“But love me for love’s sake” (13)•“Thou mayst love on” (14)

Tone•The end of line 12 signals a volta

“Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!”

This indicates a pause in the poem where the tone shifts dramatically.

Punctuation•Periods indicate finite statements•“If thou must love me, let it be for nought except for love’s sake only.” (1-2)•“… and love, so wrought, may be unwrought.” (8-9)

•Emphasizes harsh tone before volta•After volta, emphasizes a content ending•“Thou mayst love on, through love’s eternity.” (14)

Punctuation•Lone exclamation point signals the peak of passion and emotion (volta)•“Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!” (12)

•Emotional crescendo•Passion builds throughout poem and reaches its maximum level at the exclamation point

Diction•Temporary diction before the volta•“such a day” (6)•“Be changed, or change for thee” (8)•“unwrought” (9)•“forget” (11)•“lose thy love” (12)

Diction•Permanent diction after the volta•“evermore” (13)•“love on” (14)•“eternity” (14)

The change in diction mimics the change in tone.

The speaker uses a change in tone and diction to express her emotions regarding love. She emphasizes these qualities with the punctuation usage.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Is this an example of “great poetry?”

This poem corresponds to Robert Frost’s definition of poetry:“A poem begins in delight, it inclines to the impulse, it assumes a direction with the first line laid down, it runs a course of lucky events, and ends in a clarification of life- not necessarily a great clarification, such as sects and cults are founded on, but in a momentary stay against confusion.”

This poem begins with an obvious direction and builds as it progresses. It gives reason to a crucial part of life, finding love. Browning communicates through this poem that love is only to be sought after if one loves for the right reasons, and not for fleeting pleasures of looks or emotional gain. Because of this, “If thou must love me” is considered great poetry.