Emotional lyric poetry: Across cultures & through the ages The Sonnet Emotional lyric poetry: Across cultures & through the ages

Sonnet Basics 14-line lyric poem Usually iambic pentameter (remember?) Lyric poetry – does not tell a story; expresses personal thoughts or emotions; from Greek “lyrikos” – short poem sung to accompaniment of a lyre Usually iambic pentameter (remember?) Formal rhyme scheme

Sonnet Origins Introduced into England nearly 500 years ago Originated in Italy in 13th c. “sonnet” – Italian for “little song” Used to express intense emotion, particularly idealized love Renaissance hits England – interest in Italian literature Poet Sir Thomas Wyatt 1st uses to express love for Queen Anne Boleyn

3 Types Petrarchan – mostly devoted to Laura The Italian sonnet form Francesco Petrarch’s “Canzonieri” – poetry collection including 317 sonnets; established sonnet as major poetic form in Europe

Petrarchan cont’d. Octave (?) – abbaabba ; presents idea, argument, or problem Sestet (?) – cdcdcd or cdecde; follows “volta” (?); illustration, variance, response, reaction, conclusion, or solution

3 Types Shakespearean OR English sonnet Shakespeare perfected and most notable sonnet poet in England – 154 sonnets Written to at least 3 people: A young man urged to marry & have children A “dark lady” unlike ideal beautiful woman of the time A rival poet

Shakespearean cont’d. Subjects/themes in addition to love: time, change, beauty, death, a woman’s coldness, suffering of the poet-lover, and immortality of poetry Genius w/sensory images & figurative language

Shakespearean cont’d. 3 quatrains – abab cdcd efef; present 3 parallel images OR 3 points in an argument Couplet – gg; ties images together or interprets their significance OR drives home conclusion

3 Types Spenserian Named after English poet Edmund Spenser Wrote “Amoretti” – collection of sonnets or “sonnet sequence” 3 quatrains - interlocking rhyme scheme: abab bcbc cdcd Couplet - ee