Work And Contemplation

By Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet
    The woman singeth at her spinning-wheel     A pleasant chant, ballad or barcarole;     She thinketh of her song, upon the whole,     Far more than of her flax; and yet the reel     Is full, and artfully her fingers feel     With quick adjustment, provident control,     The lines, too subtly twisted to unroll     Out to a perfect thread. I hence appeal     To the dear Christian Church, that we may do     Our Father's business in these temples mirk,     Thus swift and steadfast, thus intent and strong;     While thus, apart from toil, our souls pursue     Some high calm spheric tune, and prove our work     The better for the sweetness of our song.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem presents a vivid and thought-provoking depiction of a woman at work, subtly intertwining themes of labor, spirituality, and the power of song. The woman, absorbed in her song more than her labor, nonetheless produces fine work, a metaphor that the poet extends to the Christian Church in the second half of the poem. The poem's structure, a Petrarchan sonnet, underscores its themes of devotion and contemplation, using the octave to set up a metaphor and the sestet to draw out its implications.

The tone is one of admiration and gentle exhortation, observing the woman's diligence and suggesting that the Church might learn from her example. The poem uses the tactile imagery of the spinning wheel and flax to ground its more abstract ideas, while the recurring thread of music – a chant, ballad, barcarole, or 'high calm spheric tune' – conveys the transcendence that can be found within humble, earthly tasks. This deft balance of the tangible and the divine, the everyday and the ethereal, is one of the poem's standout features. A notable literary device is the poet's use of enjambment to maintain a smooth, flowing rhythm that mirrors the woman's easy balance of work and song, enhancing the overall theme of harmony and unity between seemingly disparate elements.

Understanding the Sonnet

The sonnet is one of the most enduring and celebrated forms of poetry, known for its strict structure and profound themes. With a history spanning centuries, sonnets have been used to explore love, beauty, politics, and mortality, all within the confines of just 14 lines.

Sonnets are characterized by their precise form and rhyme scheme, which vary depending on the type of sonnet. Here’s a closer look:

  • Shakespearean (English) Sonnet: Composed of three quatrains followed by a final couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG. This form often builds a complex argument or narrative, culminating in a powerful closing statement.
  • Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet: Divided into an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines), with a typical rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA for the octave, followed by various patterns in the sestet such as CDECDE or CDCDCD. The octave usually presents a problem, with the sestet providing a resolution.
  • Meter: Sonnets are traditionally written in iambic pentameter, which gives the poem a rhythmic and melodic quality that enhances its emotional impact.

The sonnet’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to condense complex emotions and ideas into a small but potent package, making it a favorite form for poets seeking to explore profound themes with precision and elegance.