Poetry Introduction: Poetry Introduction: SonnetsSonnets

Italian (Petrarchan) SonnetItalian (Petrarchan) Sonnet

Created by Giacomo de Lentini.Created by Giacomo de Lentini.

Includes two parts: octave and Includes two parts: octave and sestet. sestet.

A-b-b-a, a-b-b-a, A-b-b-a, a-b-b-a, c-d-e-c-d-ec-d-e-c-d-e and and sometimes sometimes c-d-c-c-d-cc-d-c-c-d-c rhyme rhyme scheme.scheme.

Poets like John Milton and William Poets like John Milton and William Wordsworth used this sonnet form.Wordsworth used this sonnet form.

Edmund SpenserEdmund Spenser

Born in London in Born in London in 1552.1552.

Most famous for Most famous for “The Faerie “The Faerie Queen.”Queen.”

Created the Created the Spenserian sonnet Spenserian sonnet form.form.

Spenserian SonnetSpenserian Sonnet

Rhyme scheme Rhyme scheme a-b-a-b, b-c-b-c, c-d-c-a-b-a-b, b-c-b-c, c-d-c-d, e-ed, e-e..

No requirement for the problem the No requirement for the problem the octave sets up like in the Italian sonnet.octave sets up like in the Italian sonnet.

Three quatrains connected my Three quatrains connected my interlocking rhyme scheme and interlocking rhyme scheme and followed by a couplet.followed by a couplet.

Example- “Amoretti” by Edmund Example- “Amoretti” by Edmund Spenser.Spenser.

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Born in England in Born in England in 1564.1564.

Created 38 plays, 154 Created 38 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 narrative sonnets, 2 narrative poems, and others.poems, and others.

Most known sonnet is Most known sonnet is Sonnet 18.Sonnet 18.

Compares his beloved Compares his beloved to the summer season to the summer season and believes she will and believes she will live on forever.live on forever.

English (Shakespearean) English (Shakespearean) SonnetSonnet

Rhyme scheme a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-Rhyme scheme a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-ge-f, g-g

Shakespeare not the first, but most Shakespeare not the first, but most famous practitionerfamous practitioner

Usually uses iambic pentameterUsually uses iambic pentameter

John MiltonJohn Milton

Born in London, Born in London, England in 1608.England in 1608.

Best known for his Best known for his epic poem epic poem “Paradise Lost.”“Paradise Lost.”

Had a great impact Had a great impact on the Romantic on the Romantic period.period.

Christopher MarloweChristopher Marlowe

Born in 1564 in Born in 1564 in EnglandEnglandKnown for his use Known for his use of blank verse, of blank verse, overreaching overreaching protagonist, and protagonist, and mysterious deathsmysterious deathsFamous piece of Famous piece of literature- The literature- The Tragical History of Tragical History of Doctor FaustusDoctor Faustus

Sir Walter RaleighSir Walter Raleigh

Born in England in Born in England in 15521552Most known for Most known for introducing tobacco introducing tobacco to Europeto EuropeExpresses Expresses contemptus mundicontemptus mundi (contempt of the (contempt of the world) in his poemsworld) in his poemsWrote "The Nymph's Wrote "The Nymph's Reply to the Reply to the Shepherd"Shepherd"

Andrew MarvellAndrew Marvell

Born in England in 1621Born in England in 1621

His poems are often His poems are often witty and full of witty and full of elaborate conceitselaborate conceits

Many poems were Many poems were inspired by events of the inspired by events of the time, public or personaltime, public or personal

The Picture of Little TC in The Picture of Little TC in a Prospect of Flowersa Prospect of Flowers was written about the was written about the daughter of one of daughter of one of Marvell's friends Marvell's friends

John DonneJohn Donne

Born in London, Born in London, England in 1572.England in 1572.Sonnets notable for Sonnets notable for their realistic and their realistic and sensual style.sensual style.His early satires dealt His early satires dealt with common with common Elizabethan topics, Elizabethan topics, such as corruption in such as corruption in the legal system, the legal system, mediocre poets, and mediocre poets, and pompous courtiers.pompous courtiers.Later poems dealt with Later poems dealt with death and sickness. death and sickness.

BibliographyBibliography

Miller, Nelson. "Basic Sonnet Forms." Miller, Nelson. "Basic Sonnet Forms." Cayuse Press Writers Exchange Cayuse Press Writers Exchange Board, n.d. Web. 12 May 2010. Board, n.d. Web. 12 May 2010. <http://www.sonnets.org/basicforms.<http://www.sonnets.org/basicforms.htm>.htm>.