Question

Why are many of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s best works found in her sonnets?

• A. The sonnet was the most fashionable and critically acclaimed poetic form of her era, making it a natural choice for her most significant works.
• B. Because the form limited her to 14 lines, preventing her from writing too much
• C. She preferred the brevity of the sonnet to deliver focused, intense emotional and intellectual arguments without extensive elaboration.
• D. The strict structural demands of the sonnet provided a clear creative framework that helped her organize complex themes more effectively.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Because the form limited her to 14 lines, preventing her from writing too much

• Elizabeth Barrett Browning was sometimes prone to writing overly long poems, but the sonnet form, limited to just 14 lines, helped her focus her thoughts and emotions more effectively.

• As a result, many of her best and most powerful works are found in her sonnet collection, especially Sonnets from the Portuguese.