Download pdf - Sonnets - David-Glen SmithSonnet Types revised 04.19.13 || English 1302: Composition & Rhetoric II || D. Glen Smith, instructor Sonnet One from Rime Sparse • the main theme of full

1revised 04.19.13 || English 1302: Composition & Rhetoric II || D. Glen Smith, instructor

Sonnets

2

Sonnet Types

revised 04.19.13 || English 1302: Composition & Rhetoric II || D. Glen Smith, instructor

Historical Overview

• evolvedovercenturies;enduredforover700years

• originallydevisedasalyric,developedinsouthernFrance,northernItaly

• creationistraditionallyattributedtoFrancescoPetrarch,

(July20,1304–July19,1374)theFatherofHumanism—

howeveritisclearhepopularizedtheformduringhislifetime

Defined

•Thesonnetisapoemcomposedwitharecognizedformulaandisconcerned

withasinglethoughtortheme,andmayhaveasecondarytheme.

•ThetermmeanslittlesonginItalian

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Sonnet Types


Types of Sonnets

Becauseofitspopularity,thepoemhastransformedovertime,retaining

importantcategorizingelements,yetmetamorphosingsomecomponents.

Common forms:

•Italiansonnet >orPetrarchansonnet

•Englishsonnet >orShakesperiansonnet

•Spenseriansonnet

•Blanksonnet

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Sonnet Types


Basic Characteristics of Traditional Sonnet

•fourteenlines

•chosenrhymeschemeandstrategicmeter

•aturnorshiftintheme(referredtoasthevolta)

Important Terms

•octave eightlines ||Forsonnetsthefirsteightlinescarryatheme.

•sestet sixlines ||Theremainingsixlinescantwistthetheme.

•tercet threelines

•quatrain fourlines

•couplet twolines

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Sonnet Types


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.

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Sonnet Types


No matter the type of sonnet:

•Boththeoctaveandthesestetmustcontainparallelthemesortwostories

whichrelatetooneanother.

• Typicallytheoctavepresentsasituation,event,image,orgeneralization

andthesestetpresentsareflectionormeditationontheprevioussection,

areaction,oraresult.

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Sonnet Types


Francesco Petrarch (July20,1304–July19,1374)

•notallowedtomarryduetoclericaldutieswiththeRomanCatholicChurch

• itisbelievedhefatheredtwochildrennonetheless

• wasaEuropeancelebrityfromhisearlywritingsinLatin

• diedofthePlagueinhislatesixties

• heestablishedcommonthemesinthesonnetformwhichbecometraditional

elementsforhundredsofyears

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Sonnet Types


The Italian Sonnet • sonnetsmustbewrittenaboutaBeloved • thePoet-writermustbeobsessedwiththeBeloved >thePoetwouldkillfortheBelovedifsheaskedhim >thePoetwouldkillhimselfifsheaskedhim • thePoet’sloveissogreatheeventuallybecomessickwithwant • itisacknowledgedthatloveisatrial;afrustrationforthePoet • thePoetfallsinloveatfirstsightoftheBeloved • theBelovedcannotbenamedinthework;theyaregivenasecretname tohidetheirtrueidentity;thePoetwillmakepunsoutoftheBeloved’sname • theBelovedisunattainableeitherbecausetheyarealreadybetrothed ortheyarenotinterestedinthePoetatall;thePoetisbeneaththeirclass • insomecasestheBelovedraisesthelowlystatusofthePoettohigherstatus —orcondemnshimtodamnation • theBelovedisanintensebeauty,anIdealexampleofthePerfectWomanlivingin theMaterialWorld • theBelovedissobeautifulandmoralsheislovedevenbyHeaven • traditionallytheBelovedisblonde,blue-eyed

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Sonnet Types


• insomecases,(aswithPetrarch)theBelovedisfatedtodieanearlydeath (ThisallowsfurthercreationofsonnetscommentingontheMaterialWorld’s lossofherperfection.) • thesonnetswillimmortalizetheBelovedonearth • loveisshownalmostinamannerofstalking • idolatryandinsomecasesintensesensualityanderoticallusions • Greek/Romandeitiesareshownfrequentlyintheseworks,specifically Venus(Aphrodite)andCupid(Eros)duetotheircontroloverlove.

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.

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Sonnet Types


The Form’s Popularity

• considertheseaspop-songsoftheirday

• thepoemswerecomposedinthevernacularItalian,nottheacademicLatin

• thisallowshisworktobeaccessibletotheaverageperson

• likewise,Petrarch’smainthemedealswiththepsychologyofaspurnedlover,

aconceptanyonecanrelateto,nomatterwhatsocialclassoroccupation

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Sonnet Types


The Sonnet Sequence

• ThroughPetrarch’sfullcollectionofpoemstheconceptofasonnetsequence

wascreated.

• Apopularformofwritingevenin16thCenturyEngland,200yearslater.

• Itiscrucialtofocusontheunityoftheworkasawhole.

• Thesequenceisapublicdeclarationofanartist’sdevotiontoaBeloved.

• Theoriginalintentionwasnottojustreadoneofthesepoemsrandomlyout

ofsequence,butrathertoreadtheentirecollectionfrombeginningtoend

toseethetransformationofthecharactersandtoseeastoryunfold.

• HismanuscriptistiltedRime Sparse, orinEnglish:Scattered Rhymes.

• Alsocalled:Canzoniere

• Thepoemsarearrangedasifcomposedinchronologicalorder,butrecent

studieshaveshownthathewrotethemoutofpropersequence.

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Sonnet Types


The Story within Rime Sparse

• inPetrarch’spoems,thebelovedisnamedLaura

• hewroteover366poemstoher,317aresonnets

• thefullmanuscriptisdedicatedtoher

• thecollectionevolvestoincludethemesofbereavementoverheruntimely

death,andthelostpossibilitiestobewithher,andmemoriesofherbeauty

• ablurringoffictionandrealityoccurhereaswell:

>heclaimsshewasarealpersonhesawatachurchonApril6,1327

>fellinloveinstantly

>shediedonEasterSunday,April6,1348bythereckoningatthattime.

• hisloveforherwasunreciprocated;sheneverrespondsinkind

• LaurawasalreadymarriedandturneddownallofPetrarch’sadvances

• itisunknownifthetwoeveractuallyspoke(ifshereallyexisted)

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Sonnet Types


The Italian Rhyme Scheme

A A

B B

B A

A B

A A

B B

B A

A B

C C C

D D D

E C C

C C D

D D C

E C D

}

}

octave: in this case composed of two quatrains

sestet:in this case composed of two tercets

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Sonnet Types


Francesco Petrarch(July1304-July1374)

fromRime Sparse original Italian

1

Voich’ascoltateinrimesparseilsuono

diqueisospiriond’ionudriva‘lcore

insulmioprimogiovenileerrore

quand’erainpartealtr’uomdaquelch’i’sono,

delvariostileinch’iopiangoetragiono

fralevanesperanzee‘lvandolore,

ovesiachiperprovaintendaamore,

sperotrovarpietà,nonchéperdono.

Mabenveggioorsícomealpopoltutto

favolafuigrantempo,ondesovente

dimemesdesmomecomivergogno;

etdelmiovaneggiarvergognaè‘lfrutto,

e‘lpentersi,e‘lconoscerchiaramente

chequantopiacealmondoèbrevesogno.

English translation

1

Youwhohearthesound,inscatteredrhymes,

ofthosesighsonwhichIfedmyheart,

inmyfirstvagrantyouthfulness,

whenIwaspartlyotherthanIam,

Ihopetofindpity,andforgiveness,

forallthemodesinwhichItalkandweep,

betweenvainhopeandvainsadness,

inthosewhounderstandlovethroughitstrials.

YetIseeclearlynowIhavebecome

anoldtaleamongstallthesepeople,sothat

itoftenmakesmeashamedofmyself;

andshameisthefruitofmyvanities,

andremorse,andtheclearestknowledge

ofhowtheworld’sdelightisabriefdream.

takenfrom:http://petrarch.petersadlon.com/canzoniere.html trans:A.S.Kline

A

B

B

A

A

B

B

A

C

D

E

C

D

E

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Sonnet Types


Sonnet One from Rime Sparse

• themainthemeoffullcollectionisexpressedinopeningpoem:

>astroyofunrequitedlove

>thepoetissufferingfromremorse

>—andheisindespairfromfailuresinlove

• establishesintroductiontostoryofafailedloveaffair,twentyyearsprior

• thispoemactsasthethesisofthefullsonnetsequence

• Poetislove-lornandfoolish

• thereaderisshownaswise,knowledgeableinlove

• Poetisshownasridiculedbysociety,anobjectofgossip

• themainpointisrevealed:theworldistemporal

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Sonnet Types


Francesco Petrarch

3

Itwasonthatdaywhenthesun’sray

wasdarkenedinpityforitsMaker,

thatIwascaptured,anddidnotdefendmyself,

becauseyourlovelyeyeshadboundme,Lady.

Itdidnotseemtometobeatimetoguardmyself

againstLove’sblows:soIwenton

confident,unsuspecting;fromthat,mytroubles

started,amongstthepublicsorrows.

Lovediscoveredmeallweaponless,

andopenedthewaytotheheartthroughtheeyes,

whicharemadethepassagewaysanddoorsoftears:

sothatitseemstomeitdoeshimlittlehonour

towoundmewithhisarrow,inthatstate,

henotshowinghisbowatalltoyouwhoarearmed.

takenfrom:http://petrarch.petersadlon.com/canzoniere.html trans:A.S.Kline

Francesco Petrarch

5

WhenIuttersighs,incallingouttoyou,

withthenamethatLovewroteonmyheart,

thesoundofitsfirstsweetaccentsbegin

tobeheardwithinthewordLAUdable.

YourREgalstate,thatInextencounter,

doublesmypowerforthehighattempt;

but:‘TAcit’,theendingcries,‘sincetodoherhonour

isforothermen’sshoulders,notforyours’.

So,wheneveronecallsouttoyou,

thevoiceitselfteachesustoLAUd,REvere,

you,O,ladyworthyofallreverenceandhonour:

exceptperhapsthatApolloisdisdainful

thatmorTAltonguecanbesopresumptuous

astospeakofhiseternallygreenbranches.

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Sonnet Types


English or Shakespearean Sonnet

TheEarlofSurrey,HenryHoward,inventedwhatisnowknownas

theEnglishorShakespeareanSonnet.*

• followsoctave+sestetformulaslightly

• allowsforthreesetsofquatrainswithindividualrhymes

• anindependentcouplet,whichservesasaneffective“moral”tothepoem

• traditionallyfollowsiambicpentameter

*SomehistorianslikewisegivepartialcredittoLordThomasWyatt(1503–11October1542)forintroducingthe sonnetconcepttoEngland;HowardhoweverexclusivelydevelopedtherhymeschemeusedinEnglishformsoftheverse.

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Sonnet Types


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:

Venus

sestet:

Cupid

Surrey,HenryHoward,Earlof.The Poetical Works of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. Boston:Little,BrownandCompany,1854.Print.

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Sonnet Types


Henry Howard(1517–19January1547)

Description of Spring, Wherein Every Thing Renews, Save Only the Lover

Thesooteseason,thatbudandbloomforthbrings, A 5

Withgreenhathcladthehill,andekethevale. B 5

Thenightingalewithfeathersnewshesings; A 5

Theturtletohermakehathtoldhertale. B 5

Summeriscome,foreveryspraynowsprings, A 5

Theharthathhunghisoldheadonthepale; B 5

Thebuckinbrakehiswintercoatheslings; A 5

Thefishesfletewithnewrepairèdscale; B 5

Theadderallhersloughawaysheslings; A 5

Theswiftswallowpursueththefliëssmale; B 5

Thebusybeeherhoneynowshemings; A 5

Winteriswornthatwastheflowers’bale. B 5

And thusIseeamongthesepleasantthings A 5

Eachcaredecays,andyetmysorrowsprings! A 5 } volta

1. soote:sweet4. turtle:turtledove;make:mate6. his olde head:i.e.hisantlers; pale:fencepost7. brake:bushes9. sloughe:skin11.minges:mingles;mixes12: bale: evil;harm;misfortune;woe; misery;sorrow

Surrey,HenryHoward,Earlof.The Poetical Works of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. Boston:Little,BrownandCompany,1854.Print.

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Sonnet Types


Spenserian Sonnet

ThisformwascreatedbyEdmundSpenser(1552—1599).

• ItcombinestheItalianformwiththeEnglish,followingthethreequatrains

andcoupletconceptfromtheEnglish.

• HisrhymeschemefollowsamodificationofItalianversion:

italian : ABAB/ABAB/CDC/CDC

spencerian: ABAB/BCBC/CDCD/EE

• Likewisehedividesthepoemintothreesections:

>statementoftheproblem,asathesis;theopeningquatrainisusually

onesentence

>explorationoftheproblemintheresultingoctave

>solutionappearsintheendingcouplet

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Sonnet Types


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

22

Sonnet Types


Noticetheemphasisinline4ontheword“sight.”Withitfallingastheextrahalf

foot,itissubconsciouslystressedinthereader’smind.Thecorrelateswiththe

themeofwantingtodescribehisBeloved’seyes,whichblindhimwithlove.

Withhisnewformula,inthisparticularcasetheoctaveestablishesahierarchy

oficons,beginningwithmajorelementsfirst,thecelestialobjects,thenworksits

waydowntoearthlyelements,indescendingorder:

sun

moon

stars

fire

lightning

diamond

crystal

glass

23

Sonnet Types


•Helikewisetwistsallthenegativesintopositives,

allthewhilecomplimentinghisBeloved’seyes.

•Toforcethisidea,heutilizesatechniquecalled caesura,whichisapause

innaturalspeaking—whichdoesnotinterferewithmeter.

Here,thecaesura’srepresentanintakeofbreath.

• InSpenser’scase,heemployedthistrickinthestructureofthelistitself,

breakingbetweentheinferiormodelandtheperfectionoftheeyes.

• Theresolutioncouplettransformswhatappearstobeobviousfailure

toassertionofpositive:onlyGodcouldbeequaltohereyes.

ThePoetreachessalvationthroughhisBeloved.

24

Sonnet Types


Emund Spenser(1552—1599)

fromAmoretti || LXXV

OnedayIwrotehernameuponthestrand,

Butcamethewavesandwashéditaway:

AgayneIwroteitwithasecondhand,

Butcamethetyde,andmademypayneshispray.

“Vayneman,”saydshe,“thatdoestinvaineassay,

Amortallthingsotoimmortalize,

ForImyselveshalllyketothisdecay,

Andeekmynamebeewypédoutlykewize.”

(octave ends/sestet begins; Spenser blurs the two together)

“Notso,”quodI,“letbaserthingsdevize

Todyindust,butyoushalllivebyfame:

Myverse,yourvertuesrareshalleternize,

Andinthehevenswryteyourgloriousname.

Wherewhenasdeathshallalltheworldsubdew,

Ourloveshalllive,andlaterliferenew.”

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

5

5.5

5

5

Edmund Spenser’s Poetry.Secondedition.HughMacLean,ed.W.W.Norton&Co., NewYork,©1982.Print.


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Sonnet Types


The Sonnets of William Shakespeare || English Sonnet

•ThesefollowtherhymeschemeABAB,CDCD,EFEF,GG

•Thisisanotherexampleofwhyitisimportanttoreadtheentiresequenceas

awhole,notliftoneortwopoemsoutoftheseries.Thereisastoryunfolding

betweenall154ofthepoemsinthiscollection.

• The SonnetsareattributedtoWilliamShakespeare,althoughlately

ithasbeensuggestedotherauthorsmayhavewrittenthese.

• ThethemesarecloselylinkedtothePetrarchanconceptintroducedearlier

inthecourse.However,oftentimesthethemesaretwisted.

26

Sonnet Types


Themes include:

• love

• sex

• beauty

• politics

• (im)mortality

Four characters appear within the poems’ plot-structure:

1.ThePoet-Speaker

2.TheYoungMan

3.TheDarkLady

4.RivalPoet

27

Sonnet Types


Looking at the entire sequence of 154 poems:

•Thefirst17sonnetsarewrittentoayoungman,urginghimtomarry

andhavechildren,therebypassingdownhisbeautytothenextgeneration.

Thesearecalledtheprocreation sonnets.Theearliestpoemsinthe

collectiondonotimplyaclosepersonalrelationship;instead,they

recommendthebenefitsofmarriageandchildren.Thiswasacommon

themeatthetime.

•Thefollowingsonnets,18-126,areaddressedtoayoungmanexpressing

thepoet’sloveforhim—criticsarguewhetherthisisaspirituallove,a

brotherlyaffection,oragayrelationship—eitherwaytheyareread,

thesepoemsdefinitelyreshapethePetrarchanmodelofaBeloved.

28

Sonnet Types


•Finally,sonnets127-152arewrittentoafemalefigure,theDarkLady;

thesepoemsexpressastrong,earthylove—thesealsobreakthePetrarchan

modelofanIdealBeauty.

• TheDarkLadyisnotblonde,norblueeyed,butinsteadisadarkhaired,

oliveskinnedwomanofmiddleclass.

• Allofthesonnetsfollowaformatofthreequatrains(4lines)

andafinalcouplet.

• Theyaremostlycomposediniambicpentameter.

29

Sonnet Types


William Shakespeare(1564—1616)

18

ShallI/compare/theeto/asum/mer’sday?

Thouart/morelove/lyand/moretemp/erate;

Roughwinds/doshake/thedar/lingbuds/ofMay,

Andsum/mer’slease/hathall/tooshort/adate;

Sometimetoohottheeyeofheavenshines,

Andoftenishisgoldcomplexiondimm’d;

Andeveryfairfromfairsometimedeclines,

Bychanceornature’schangingcourseuntrimm’d;

Butthyeternalsummershallnotfade,

Norlosepossessionofthatfairthouow’st;

NorshallDeathbragthouwander’stinhisshade,

Whenineternallinestotimethougrow’st:

Solongasmencanbreatheoreyescansee,

Solonglivesthis,andthisgiveslifetothee.

The Sonnets and Narrative Poems: The Complete Non-Dramatic Poetry.SylvanBarnet,ed. SignetClassic,PenquinBooks,NewYork,1989.Print.

thesis: problem

establishedand

discussed in octave

sestetshifts

in tone

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


30

Sonnet Types


Sonnet 18: “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?” • oneoftheYoungManpoems;afrequentlyquotedpiece • rhymeschemeisanexampleoftypicalEnglishsonnet: ABAB/CDCD/EFEF/GG • themeterisaperfectiambicpentameter

• ll1-4:thePoetopenswithaquestioningofhiscreativepowers,seeking anappropriatemetaphorfortheBeloved;throughthecontextofthepoem hediscoverstheYoungManisamorepositiveimagethantheseasonitself • ll5-8:thePoetbringsuptheconceptofApollo,theyoungGreekgodof thesun,music,andpoetry;heisalsoseenasaleaderoftheartisticMuses. ThePoetalsoresolvesthatallbeautyfadesovertime,eitherbycasual circumstancesorbyseasonalchangesintheyear. • ll9:establishesthetraditionalvolta,“Butthyeternalsummershallnot fade”—duetothepoemitselfpreservingasenseoftheyouth’sbeauty. • ll13-14:ithasbeensuggestedthattheclosingcoupletencouragesasense thattheyouthisrathervain.

31

Sonnet Types


William Shakespeare

29

Whenin/disgrace/withFor/tuneand/men’seyes,

Iall/alone/beweep/myout/caststate,

Andtrou/bledeaf/heaven/withmy/bootless/cries,

Andlook/upon/myself/andcurse/myfate,

Wishingmeliketoonemorerichinhope,

Featuredlikehim,likehimwithfriendspossess’d,

Desiringthisman’sart,andthatman’sscope,

WithwhatImostenjoycontentedleast;

Yetinthesethoughtsmyselfalmostdespising,

HaplyIthinkonthee,andthenmystate,

Liketothelarkatbreakofdayarising

Fromsullenearth,singshymnsatheaven’sgate;

Forthysweetloveremember’dsuchwealthbrings

ThatthenIscorntochangemystatewithkings.


thesis: problem

establishedand

discussed in octave

sestetshifts

in tone; ending couplet

confirms

A

B

A

B

C

D

C

D

E

B

E

B

F

F

5

5

5.5

5

5

5

5

5

5.5

5

5.5

5

5

5


32

Sonnet Types


Sonnet 29: “When in Disgrace with Fortune and Men’s Eyes” • oneoftheYoungManpoems;mostquotedfromthefullsequence • thepoemispresentedasonelongsentence • rhymeschemeisanexperimentinthiscase;theopeningquatrain establishessamerhymesusedinthethirdquatrain: ABAB/CDCD/EBEB/FF

• ll1-2:thePoetannouncesheisaloneintheworld,indisgrace • ll3-4:likeJob,hecomplainstoheaven,cursinghislostreputation • ll5-6:becauseofhisbadluck,hewishesforother’ssuccesses, anotherman’spopularity, • l7:another’screativity,another’svision • l8:atcloseofoctave,thePoetisleastsatisfiedwithhischosencareer • ll9-10:Yet,despitethesethoughtsofself-hatred,justbythinkingofthe YoungMan,thePoetfeelsacontentment • ll11-12:heformsananalogycomparinghimselfwithalark:justasa commonbirdsingstoheavenatdawn:Poet(bird)toYoungMan(sun) •ll13-14:TheloveoftheYoungManisenoughtohelpthepoetsurvive; somuchsohewouldn’tchangehislotinlife

33

Sonnet Types


William Shakespeare

126

Othou,mylovelyboy,whointhypower

DostholdTime’sfickleglass,hisficklehour;

Whohastbywaninggrown,andthereinshow’st

Thyloverswithering,asthysweetselfgrow’st.

IfNature,sovereignmistressoverwrack,

Asthougoestonwards,stillwillplucktheeback,

Shekeepstheetothispurpose,thatherskill

Maytimedisgraceandwretchedminuteskill.

Yetfearher,Othouminionofherpleasure!

Shemaydetain,butnotstillkeep,hertreasure:

Heraudit(thoughdelayed)answeredmustbe,

Andherquietusistorenderthee.

A

A

B

B

C

C

D

D

E

E

F

F

5.5

5

5

5.5

5

5

5

5

5.5

5.5

5

5


thesis: problem

establishedand

discussed in octave

shift in tone


34

Sonnet Types


William Shakespeare

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.


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


35

Sonnet Types


Sonnet 130: “My Mistress’ Eyes Are Nothing Like The Sun”

• Thefirstlineisironicinthesensethatallofthepoemsaddressingthe

YoungMancomparehimtothesun,orassertheisasbeautifulasApollo,

theGreeksun-god;theDarkLadyisofoppositecharacterization.

• Thefullpoemexplainsthecontrastofidealismandreality.

• Thesonnetendswithanassertionthathisbelovedisasbeautifulasany

thathasbeenfalselycomplimentedbyotherpoets.

A slight rewording of the final couplet for modern clarification:

Andyet,Iswearbyheaven,Ithinkmyloveisrare

Asanyshe(that is:anyotherwoman)misrepresentedwithfalsecompliments.

Theword“compare”inthiscaseisbeingusedbythePoetasanounnotaverb.

36

Sonnet Types


IfyoucomparetheDarkLadyagainstthecharacterizationofPertrarch’sLaura,

yougetacollectionofextremecontrastingelements.

Laura: Dark Lady:

beautiful average

blonde/blueeyes brunette/browneyes

pale,fairskin olivetones

artificialidealism realisticbeauty

icon/outofreach/goddess downtoearth/obtainable/mortal