A sonnet is a 14-line poem with a set meter and rhyme system. A sonnet is written in iambic pentameter, a meter composed of five sets of unstressed-stressed syllable blocks known as iambs. Sonnets follow a typical pattern: three quatrains followed by a final rhyming couplet.
The rhyme scheme for sonnets usually follows the ABBA pattern, which means that the last line of each stanza will end in B (or B) sound and the final line of the poem will end in A (or A) sound. This gives the reader time to reflect on what has been said before moving on to the next stanza. Many modern poets vary from this pattern by using all kinds of different endings or not ending any lines at all.
Sonnets were first used by Petrarch in Italy in 1380. He was inspired by the English sonnet sequence by Dante called "La Divina Commedia" or "The Divine Comedy". This led to an international revival of the form. Today it is common practice for authors to include their name at the beginning of each sonnet they write.
Through history, many great artists have been praised for their skill as sonnet writers. These include Shakespeare, Donne, Herbert, Marvell, Hardy, Thompson, Cummings, and Steinberg just to name a few.
A sonnet is a fourteen-line poetry. At the conclusion of each line, there is usually some form of ordered pattern of rhyming words. Lines are typically the same length. That is, they both have the same amount of syllables. A sonnet's theme can be anything: love, hate, life, death, etc.
The first sonnet by any name was probably written in 1340 by an Italian poet named Giacomo di Dante Alighieri. It was addressed to his love lady named Beatrice. The sonnets that follow in sequence over time deal with different themes but all include a basic pattern of four parts: introduction, statement of case, resolution, and coda.
Sonnets were very popular in England during the Renaissance period. Shakespeare is thought to have been the most prolific sonnet writer of all time. His 154 sonnets have been called "the most famous collection of poems in the English language."
Here are some examples of sonnets from various writers:
Shakespeare's Sonnets: http://www.sonnetlover.com/shakespeare/
Sonnet 18 is a conventional English or Shakespearean sonnet, with 14 lines in iambic pentameter divided into three quatrains and a couplet. It also contains the usual rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is written in the rhetorical style of an Italian or Petrarchan sonnet.
The first line states that "the world's a stage" and this concept forms the theme of the entire poem. This idea was very popular in the Renaissance era, when many poets were influenced by the works of Dante. They often used this phrase as a summary at the beginning of their poems to indicate that what follows is only a small part of a much larger work.
The second quatrain begins with the word "alas" which means "regret, sorrow, mourning." The next two lines say that even though Rome is full of wealth, it cannot save its citizens from death. Then, the third quatrain says that love is more powerful than Rome itself. Finally, the couplet concludes that love is a "two-edged sword," which can cut both friends and enemies.
Rome is a city in Italy, located on the Tiber River. It was founded as a settlement for Romans expelled from their home town of Alba Longa. The city has been the capital of Italy since 1861.
Love is a feeling that people experience when they find happiness in another person's company.
There are fourteen lines in a Shakespearean sonnet. The first twelve lines are divided into three quatrains with four lines each. In the three quatrains, the poet establishes a theme or problem and then resolves it in the final two lines, called the couplet. The rhyme scheme of the quatrains is abab cdcd efef.
Look through the vocabulary of poetry terminology. For ages, poets have been compelled by the sonnet, a popular classical form. The sonnet is a fourteen-line poem composed in iambic pentameter with one of many rhyme schemes and a strictly ordered thematic framework.
Sonnet 43 is a sonnet-style love letter. A sonnet is a 14-line poem that follows a specified rhyme scheme and meter (usually iambic pentameter)... Cummings Research Guide
| Text of the Poem | Annotations |
|---|---|
| In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. | mourning; I love you with the blind faith of a child |
Sonnets are 14-line poetic poetry with a specified rhyme pattern. Sonnets are often composed of two opposing personalities, events, opinions, or feelings. The sonnet form is used by poets to explore the tension that arises between the two parts. Sonnets are useful because they can give insight into the mind of their author.
People used sonnets for many reasons. Some people used them as a tool for self-expression, while others used them to get feedback from others. Sonnets were also used as a way to request things from those in power such as asking for favors or complaining about issues occurring within the community. Finally, some people used sonnets as a way to earn money. Professional poets would write sonnets for pay.
In the late 15th century, English poets began using the sonnet as a way to express themselves about political and personal matters. These poems were called "courtly love" poems because they were intended to compete with French poems that discussed similar topics. Courtly love poems were meant to win the favor of women who could influence other women through gifts and appointments to positions of authority. Many famous poets earned their living through courtly love poems including Thomas Wyatt, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, and Thomas Churchyard.
In addition to earning a living through courtly love poems, poets also used sonnets as a way to ask for things.
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