101.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
Edgar Allan Poe and the Sonnet Form
2
Sonnet Form
01.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
Historical Overview
• evolvedovercenturies;enduredforover700years
• originallydevisedasalyric,developedinsouthernFrance,northernItaly
• creationandtraditionallyattributedtoFrancescoPetrarch,
(July20,1304–July19,1374)theFatherofHumanism—
howeveritisclearhepopularizedtheformduringhislifetime
Sonnet Defined
•Thesonnetisapoemcomposedwitharecognizedformula
andisconcernedwithasinglethoughtortheme,andmayhavea
secondarytheme.
•ThetermmeanslittlesonginItalian
3
Sonnet Form
01.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
Types of Sonnets
Becauseofitspopularity,thepoemhastransformedovertime,retaining
importantcategorizingelements,yetmetamorphosingsomecomponents.
Common forms:
•Italiansonnet >orPetrarchansonnet
•Englishsonnet >orShakesperiansonnet
•Spenseriansonnet
•Blanksonnet >orafree-versesonnet
4
Sonnet Form
01.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
Basic Characteristics of Traditional Sonnet
•fourteenlines
•chosenrhymeschemeandstrategicmeter
•aturnorshiftintheme(referredtoasthevolta)
Important Terms
•octave eightlines ||Forsonnetsthefirsteightlinescarryatheme.
•sestet sixlines ||Theremainingsixlinescantwistthetheme.
•tercet threelines
•quatrain fourlines
•couplet twolines
5
Sonnet Form
01.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
Charles Simic || History
Onagrayevening
Ofagraycentury,
Iateanapple
Whilenoonewaslooking.
Asmall,sourapple
Thecolorofwoodfire,
WhichIfirstwiped
Onmysleeve. 8
ThenIstretchedmylegs
Asfarasthey’dgo,
Saidtomyself
Whynotclosemyeyesnow
BeforetheLate
WorldNewsandWeather. 14
}
}
octave: in this case composed of two quatrains
sestet:in this case composed of a quatrain and a couplet
Simic,Charles.“History.”The Making of a Sonnet: A Norton Anthology. EdwardHirschandEavanBoland,eds.NewYork:W.W.Norton.2008.Print.
6
Sonnet Form
01.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
•Boththeoctaveandthesestetcontainparallelthemes,
ortwostorieswhicharerelatedtooneanother.
• Typicallytheoctavepresentsasituation,event,image,orgeneralization
andthesestetpresentsareflectionormeditationontheprevioussection,
areaction,oraresult.
To simplify, these poems can appear, when poorly written, over-dramatic,
pathos driven, scenes filled with heaving bosoms, and self-centered whining.
When well-crafted, the poems share a common story of lost love with the reader.
7
Sonnet Form
01.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
The Italian Rhyme Scheme
A A
B B
B A
A B
A A
B B
B A
A B
C C
D D
E C
C C
D D
E C
}
}
octave: in this case composed of two quatrains
sestet:in this case composed of two tercets
8
Sonnet Form
01.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
English or Shakespearean Sonnet
TheEarlofSurrey,HenryHoward,inventedwhatisnowknownas
theEnglishorShakespeareanSonnet.
• followsoctave+sestetformulaslightly
• allowsforthreesetsofquatrainswithindividualrhymes
• anindependentcouplet,whichservesasaneffective“moral”tothepoem
• traditionallyfollowsiambicpentameter
9
Sonnet Form
01.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
Henry Howard(1517–19January1547)
Complaint of the Lover Disdained
InCyprussprings,whereasDameVenusdwelt, A 5
Awellsohot,thatwhosotastesthesame, B 5
Wereheofstone,asthawediceshouldmelt, A 4.5
Andkindledfindhisbreastwithfixedflame; B 4.5
Whosemoistpoisondissolvedhathmyhate. C 4.5
Thiscreepingfiremycoldlimbssoopprest, D 5
Thatintheheartthatharbour’dfreedom,late: C 5
Endlessdespairlongthraldomhathimprest. D 5
Anothersocoldinfrozeniceisfound, E 5.5
Whosechillingvenomofrepugnantkind, F 5
TheferventheatdothquenchofCupid’swound, E 5
Andwiththespotofchangeinfectsthemind; F 5
Whereofmydearhathtastedtomypain: G 5
Myservicethusisgrownintodisdain. G 5
}
}
octave
sestet
Surrey,HenryHoward,Earlof.The Poetical Works of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. Boston:Little,BrownandCompany,1854.Print.
Rhyme scheme||Meter
10
Sonnet Form
01.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
Emund Spenser(1552—1599)
fromAmoretti ||IX
LongwhileIsoughttowhatImightcompare
Thosepowerfuleyes,whichlightenmydarksight,
YetfindInoughtonearthtowhichIdare
Resembleth’imageoftheirgoodlylight.
Nottothesun,fortheydoshinebynight;
Nortothemoon,fortheyarechangednever;
Nortothestars,fortheyhavepurersight;
Nortothefire,fortheyconsumenotever;
(octave ends/sestet begins; Spenser blurs the two together)
Nortothelightning,fortheystillpersever;
Nortothediamond,fortheyaremoretender;
Noruntocrystal,farnoughtmaythemsever;
Noruntoglass,suchbasenessmightoffendher;
ThentotheMakerselftheylikestbe,
Whoselightdothlightenallthatherewesee.
thesis: problem
established
problem discussed
in following octave.
problem resolved
in couplet
A
B
A
B
B
C
B
C
C
D
C
D
E
E
5
5.5
5
5
5
5
5
5.5 /(6?)
5.5
5.5
5.5
5.5
5
5
English Sixteenth-Century Verse: An Anthology.RichardS.Sylvester,ed.W.W.Norton&Co., NewYork,©1974.Print.
Rhyme scheme||Meter
11
Sonnet Form
01.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
William Shakespeare(1564—1616)
130
Mymist/ress’eyes/arenoth/inglike/thesun;
Coral/isfar/morered/thanher/lips’red;
Ifsnow/bewhite,/whythen/herbreasts/aredun;
Ifhairs/bewires,/blackwires/growon/herhead.
Ihave/seenros/esda/mask,red/andwhite,
ButnosuchrosesseeIinhercheeks;
Andinsomeperfumesistheremoredelight
Thaninthebreaththatfrommymistressreeks.
Ilovetohearherspeak,yetwellIknow
Thatmusichathafarmorepleasingsound;
IgrantIneversawagoddessgo;
Mymistress,whenshewalks,treadsontheground:
Andyet,/byheav/en,I/thinkmy/loveas/rare
Asan/yshe/belied/withfalse/compare.
The Sonnets and Narrative Poems: The Complete Non-Dramatic Poetry.SylvanBarnet,ed. SignetClassic,PenquinBooks,NewYork,1989.Print.
problem resolved
in couplet
thesis: problem
establishedand
discussed in octave
sestetshifts
in tone, slightly
A
B
A
B
C
D
C
D
E
F
E
F
G
G
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5.5
5
Rhyme scheme||Meter
1201.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
Sonnet — Silence
Edgar Allan Poe created his own experimental form.
Inthiscase,hepurposelyde-constructedthetraditionalformulatodevelophis
ownconcept.
•maintainsexpectediambicmeter, however
•uses15lines
• inventedanewrhymeschemetocompensateadditionalline
•heightenedthemeofduality
1301.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
Sonnet — SilenceEdgar Allan Poe(January1809–October1849)
Sonnet — Silence
Therearesomequalities—someincorporatethings, A 6
Thathaveadoublelife,whichthusismade B 5
Atypeofthattwinentitywhichsprings A 5
Frommatterandlight,evincedinsolidandshade. B 6
Thereisatwo-foldSilence—seaandshore— C 5
Bodyandsoul.Onedwellsinlonelyplaces, D 5.5
Newlywithgrasso’ergrown;somesolemngraces, D 5.5
Somehumanmemoriesandtearfullore, C 5
Renderhimterrorless:hisname’s“NoMore.” C 5
HeisthecorporateSilence:dreadhimnot! E 5.5
Nopowerhathheofevilinhimself; F 5.5
Butshouldsomeurgentfate(untimelylot!) E 5
Bringtheetomeethisshadow(namelesself, F 5
Thathaunteththeloneregionswherehathtrod G 5
Nofootofman)commendthyselftoGod! G 5
Rhyme scheme||Meter
incorporate:combinedinonebody(inthiscase:bodyandsoul)evince:toshowclearlycorporate:united;combined
} quatrain
} cinquain
} sestet
14
Sonnet Form
01.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
Notice Poe is playing off the notion that a conventional sonnet has
two themes.
Inhiscasehecreatesa“two-headed”convolutedthemeregardingthe
multipletypesofsilence:
•basicdefinitionofsilence:withoutsound
• silenceofisolationandloneliness
• silenceassociatedwiththelossofalovedone
• silenceofthebodyofthedeceased;ofagravesiteovertime
Oneofhismanytricksinthiselusivestrategyistoshowthatjustasa
traditionalsonnethastwothemes,apersoniscomposedofbodyandsoul,
bodyandshadow,bodyandmind.
• Dualityisacommonoccurrenceintheuniverse.
1501.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
Multipledualisticimageryexistsin“Sonnet—Silence”:
•incorporate(l1)
•doublelife(l2)
•twinentity(l3)
•matterandlife/solidandshade(l4)
•two-foldSilence/SeaandShore(l5)
•BodyandSoul(l6)
•grassandgraces(l7)
•memoriesandlore(l8)
•corporateSilence(l10)
•shadow(l13)
Sonnet — Silence
1601.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
The opening quatrain establishes the main theme of the poem: Therearesomequalities—someincorporatethings, Thathaveadoublelife,whichthusismade Atypeofthattwinentitywhichsprings Frommatterandlight,evincedinsolidandshade.
• ManyformsofdualityexistinNature;theseareessentialtoestablish
meaningtoourexistence.Toembellishthis,Poeusesthefollowingconcepts:
Body Soul
shore sea
logic emotion/passion
death life
matter light
solid shade
• Justashumanity’sexistenceremainsconfusingandcontradictory,
soarethethemesrunninginthepoem.
Sonnet — Silence
1701.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
The remaining lines of the sonnet introduce a confusing character:
• theselinesrefertotheawkwardlynamedelement:“NoMore”
• thispersonificationis“one(who)dwellsinlonelyplaces”—thatisagrave.
• thispersonified-elementisnottobefeared(“renderedterrorless”)byaperson
>whohaswith“solemngraces”
>withpositive“humanmemories”(non-animalistic)and“lore”(education)
•usuallyinterpretedasarepresentationofDeath,althoughsomepeopleargue
itcouldbearepresentationofIsolationorDisconnectionfromSociety,
whichinitselfisanotherformofdeath.
•Therealargumentsbeginwiththeremainingsymbolof
“hisshadow/namelesself,/Thathaunteththeloneregions”—
•Somerefertothisasarepresentationofimpulsesofgreedorillicitdesires.
• Ifthesefactorinthewakingself,oneshouldcommendoneselftoGod.
Sonnet — Silence
18
Sonnet Form
01.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
By commending oneself to God the soul is guaranteed existence in
union with the Divine element.
ThegloomypersonawhichPoechoosestoemployreachesaprofoundresolution.
• Thelossofthemortalbodyshouldnotbemourned;thisisanaturalprocess
oflife.WeallmustdieaccordingtoNature.
• However,hedoeswarnitisimportanttoavoidthedeathofthesoulitself.
>Withasenseofreligion,thisisahell.
>Withasenseofphilosophy,thisrepresentsalifewithoutdirection.
• Thisisahellishconditionofeternalsilence.
1901.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
InFreudianlogic,the“namelesself”couldbearepresentationforthelibido,
anelementinthepersonalitywhichissexualinnatureandinfluencesthe
unconsciousmind,andinpartcauseshumanstoreacttocircumstancesbased
ondesiresratherthanlogic.
EdgarAllanPoe’scollectionofworkprecedeandpredictthePsychoanalytic
conceptsdiscoveredbySigmundFreud.Poe’spersonaeoftenappearmaniacal
withoutbackgroundevidencesuppliedtothereadertoexplaintheirconflicts.
Abranchofcriticsliketouseapsychoanalyticalapproachwhenexaminingthese
poemsandstories.Inthismanner,adetailedcriticismcanrevealhiddendepths
ofbehavioralmotivationsforsuchirrationalfigures.
Sonnet — Silence
2001.02.12 || English 2327: American Literature I || D. Glen Smith, instructor
The human mind is divided up into components–theEgo,Superego,andId.
•Ego:theconsciousself,the“I”voiceinyourhead;itdefinesand
interpretsreality;isinfluencedbysocialforces.Itisformedatbirthand
modifiesbehaviorbycontrollingimpulsesthatareunacceptablebysociety.
•Superego:theconsciousselfimagewhichmodifiesandinhibits
instinct.Itadoptsstandardsofbehaviorfromsurroundings.
•Id:theunconscious;reservoirofinstinctualdesiresandhiddenmotivations.
Controlledbythepleasureprinciple,thegratificationofdesires.
•Libido:thebasisformanyofFreud’sunderstandingofhiddensymbols
indreams,isaninfluentialportionoftheId.Thesedesiresoftenconflict
withwhatsocietydictatesas“normal,”“polite,”or“correct.”Somebelievea
healthylibidoisimportant;otherssayitshouldalwaysberepressed.
Freudian Concepts in Brief