Sonnet

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Wien Museum Online Sammlung W 4140 1-2 (cropped)

Sonnet is a form of poetry with a rich history dating back to the 13th century. It is a short poem of 14 lines with various rhyme schemes, traditionally expressing a single, coherent thought, idea, or sentiment. The sonnet has evolved through time, with notable variations including the Italian or Petrarchan sonnet, the English or Shakespearean sonnet, and the Spenserian sonnet, each named after their most famous practitioners.

Origins and History

The sonnet originated in Italy with Giacomo da Lentini, a 13th-century poet of the Sicilian School. It was popularized by Francesco Petrarch, whose sonnets to Laura, an idealized beloved, were widely imitated throughout Europe, giving rise to the term Petrarchan sonnet. This form was introduced to England by Thomas Wyatt in the early 16th century, where it was adapted by poets such as William Shakespeare, leading to the development of the Shakespearean sonnet.

Structure

The structure of a sonnet is determined by its rhyme scheme and meter. In English, sonnets are typically written in iambic pentameter, a type of poetic meter with five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables per line.

Petrarchan Sonnet

The Petrarchan sonnet is divided into two parts: an octave (the first eight lines) and a sestet (the last six lines). The octave typically follows the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA, while the sestet may follow various patterns such as CDECDE or CDCDCD. The octave presents a problem, situation, or emotion, and the sestet offers a resolution or commentary.

Shakespearean Sonnet

The Shakespearean sonnet consists of three quatrains (four-line stanzas) followed by a final rhymed couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABABCDCDEFEFGG. This structure allows for a more flexible development of thought than the Petrarchan sonnet, with each quatrain typically introducing a new theme or aspect of the central idea, culminating in a summarizing or paradoxical couplet.

Spenserian Sonnet

The Spenserian sonnet, developed by Edmund Spenser, is a variant of the Shakespearean form, featuring the rhyme scheme ABABBCBCCDCDEE. This interlocking pattern links the quatrains together, creating a more unified argument or emotion.

Themes

Sonnet themes are traditionally love, beauty, politics, mortality, and nature. The form's concise structure makes it well-suited to the expression of complex feelings and ideas in a nuanced and potent manner.

Influence

The sonnet has had a significant impact on Western literature, inspiring countless poets to adopt and adapt its form to express their own thoughts and emotions. Its influence can be seen in the works of later poets, such as John Milton, William Wordsworth, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, among others.

Modern Sonnets

In the modern era, poets have continued to experiment with and reinterpret the sonnet form, exploring contemporary themes and pushing the boundaries of its traditional structure. Despite these innovations, the sonnet remains a popular and enduring form of poetry, testament to its ability to capture the human experience in a mere 14 lines.