In "Sonnet 43" the speaker's declaration that "I love thee to the depth and breadth and height / My soul can reach" is an attempt to explain a. how intensely she feels. c. the contrast between mortal and immortal love. b. how valiantly she has struggled to love. d. the difference between emotion and rational thought.

Question

Joey Richardson

English

20 April, 01:51

In "Sonnet 43" the speaker's declaration that "I love thee to the depth and breadth and height / My soul can reach" is an attempt to explain a. how intensely she feels. c. the contrast between mortal and immortal love. b. how valiantly she has struggled to love. d. the difference between emotion and rational thought.

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Claudia Merritt · Answer 1

The answer is:

A. How intensely she feels.

The speaker contrasts the spiritual life with material life to emphasize how in love with "thee" she is. In such excerpt, the speaker uses the words "depth, breadth and height", which are words used to measure tangible things, with the word "soul", which is something intangible and spiritual. Moreover, she feels that her love goes beyond material world.

Option C and D could also be correct, but in the phrase "I love thee to the depth and breadth and height / My soul can reach" it is evident that the speaker expresses the intensity of her love by contrasting mortal and immortal love as well as emotion and rational thought. Option B has nothing to do with the phrase in question.