What kind of poem is "How Do I Love Thee?" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning?

The poem "How Do I Love Thee?" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is classified as a lyric poem. Lyric poetry is characterized by its expression of personal emotions and thoughts, often written in the first person and focused on feelings rather than narrative or dramatic elements.

In this particular poem, Browning explores the depths of her love, articulating it with deep passion and introspection. The very structure and tone of the poem emphasize individual sentiment, aligning perfectly with the defining attributes of lyric poetry. The use of the sonnet form also complements its lyrical quality, allowing for a structured yet intimate exploration of her affections.

While ballads tend to tell stories with a focus on narrative events, and limericks are light-hearted, whimsical poems with a specific rhyme scheme, "How Do I Love Thee?" moves far beyond storytelling or humor. A sestina, on the other hand, is a fixed verse form consisting of six stanzas of six lines each, followed by a three-line envoi, which does not apply to Browning's poem. The overarching themes and emotional delivery firmly establish "How Do I Love Thee?" as a quintessential example of a lyric poem.