Expression of Intimacy: Rereading Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “First Time He Kissed Me, He but Only Kissed”

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-313-9_22How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Sonnet; Structure; Rhythm; Figures of Speech; History

Abstract

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “First time he kissed me, he but only kissed” is unveiling. Yet, it is often overshadowed by her more celebrated poems. This study attempts for a renewed perusal of this sonnet. This study will reveal not only figurative language, but it also historical background of the sonnet. Through a close reading of its structure, rhythm, and figures of speech, this article discloses a delicate expression of intimacy. The study adopts Kennedy and Gioia’s concept of structure; rhythm; and figures of speech. The study applies George’s approach of library research. The analysis delves into the sonnet’s text and history, and it shows how Browning undergoes uneasiness in her relationship. Browning’s sonnet inhales suppression for herself and it exhales liberation for her beloved.

Copyright

© 2024 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Ariya Jati
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/12/07
TI  - Expression of Intimacy: Rereading Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “First Time He Kissed Me, He but Only Kissed”
BT  - Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Culture and Sustainable Development (ICOCAS 2024)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 144
EP  - 151
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-313-9_22
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-313-9_22
ID  - Jati2024
ER  -