English 313

The Structure of Aurora Leigh

(taken from Helen Cooper, Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Woman and Artist. Chapel Hill: UNC P, 1988.)

There are nine books in Aurora Leigh (rather than the "traditional" epic twelve of Paradise Lost); the first five are written in/about England, the last four in/about Paris and Italy. The structure of the poem reveals Aurora's development as a poet: as she leaves England, she also learns to leave the male-identified poetry she has been writing, and to rethink her position as a woman poet. Only when she has come to terms with herself as a woman poet can she incorporate love into her life, in the union with Romney.

Written in England:

1. Aurora's parents' marriage; her childhood in Italy; adolescence in England; birth as a poet.

2. Romney's proposal on Aurora's 20^th birthday.

3. Aurora as writer in London; introduction of Lady Waldemar; Marian Erle's story.

4. Marian's story continued; Romney & Marian's abortive wedding.

5. meditation on art; Lord Howe's party; Aurora decides to leave for Italy.

Written in Paris and Italy:

6. Aurora meets Marian Erle in Paris; explanation of the abortive wedding; Marian Erle's second story.

7. Marian's story continued; journey to Italy; letters to Lord Howe and Lady Waldemar.

8. Romney's arrival in Florence; he and Aurora reassess their discussion from her twentieth birthday.

9. Marian refuses Romney; Aurora and Romney's (re)union; Aurora's rebirth as a poet.

The structure reveals a pattern of return and revision which allows Aurora to reassess certain key moments in her journey to becoming a poet:

England		Abroad
1	Union	9
2	Romney & Aurora: 20^th birthday	8
3	Marian Erle's story	7
4	Marian's story: the wedding	6
	5: Art