Unveiling the Layers of Love: A Stylistic Analysis of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s ‘How Do I Love Thee?’

This paper conducts an in-depth stylistic analysis of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poem “How Do I Love Thee?” by examining it through four distinct levels of analysis: lexico-syntactic, phonological, graphological, and morphological. The objective is to uncover both the explicit and implicit elements of the poem to achieve a systemic interpretation, thereby understanding the poetic expressions skillfully constructed through the use of rhyme, alliteration, assonance, and consonance. The analysis of various stylistic devices elucidates the themes, viewpoints, and imagery related to the speaker’s profound love. This comprehensive examination demonstrates the intricate stylistic structure and enduring significance of “How Do I Love Thee.” By providing a thorough understanding of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s creative process, this study contributes to the field of literary studies and deepens our appreciation of Browning’s impact on poetry. Stylistic analysis in linguistics reveals the various language features present in poems and extracts meaning from these features. Therefore, this analysis is both valuable and innovative in understanding the fundamental concepts of this poem, illustrating the significant distinction between everyday language and the literary poetic language used in literary texts. This highlights the stylistic differences and their impact on the reader.