If thou must love me

If thou must love me, let it be for nought

Except for loves sake only. Do not say
I love her for her smile, her look, her way
Of speaking gently, for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of ease on such a day
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee, and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pitys wiping my cheek dry,
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for loves sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through loves eternity.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

What is the theme of the poem?

What is Barrett Browning asking you to think about?
What is her ultimate hope for this love (last line)?
What reasons should we have for loving somebody? Why should we not love
someone?
 Homework sonnet research
Find two more 14-line sonnets. Read and research them, recording the
information in the table.

Name of sonnet 1 Name of sonnet 2

Who is the poet?

Are they male or

female?

When did they live?

What is the sonnet

about?

One thing that you liked

about it

What is your favourite

word in this sonnet?

A summary of the poets

thoughts