Sonnets

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Sonnets

• The most popular form of poetry during the
  Renaissance period.

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Francesco Petrarch

• Creator of the sonnet form
• Wrote a series of 366 poems Canzoniere devoted to
  his love Laura
• Established the blazon a poetic inventory of a
  womans physical features
• her lips are like rubies, her eyes are stars

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Petrarch and Laura
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His love Laura de Noves

• 6 years his junior, Petrarch saw Laura at church
  and fell in love at first sight
• She was already married, so she could not return
  his love
• Although Petrarch never actually spoke to her, he
  carried on his love in poetry even past her death
  on April 6th (the same day he first saw her)

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The Petrarchan Sonnet

• 14 lines
• Rhyme scheme ABBA ABBA CDE CDE
• Volta (turn) occurs between the octave (1st 8
  lines) and the sextet (last 6 lines)
• Usually about unrequited love, can include the
  blazon

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Sonnet 64 from the Canzoniere

• When Love within her lovely face appearsnow and
  again among the other ladies,as much as each is
  less lovely than shethe more my wish I love
  within me grows.
• I bless the place, the time and hour of the
  daythat my eyes aimed their sights at such a
  height,and say 'My soul, you must be very
  gratefulthat you were found worthy of such great
  honour.

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Sonnet 64 cont.

• From her to you comes loving thought that
  leads,as long as you pursue, to highest
  good,esteeming little what all men desire
• there comes from her all joyous honestythat
  leads you by the straight path up to
  Heavenalready I fly high upon my hope.'

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Shakespeare and the English Sonnet

• The sonnet came to England but had to change
  because of the rhyme scheme
• English sonnet 3 quatrains (4 lines) and a
  couplet (2 lines)
• Rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
• Shakespeare expanded the subject matter to
  include life, having children, war, death

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Edmund Spenser and the Sonnet

• English poet, most known for his epic poem
  devoted to Queen Elizabeth I, The Faerie Queene.
• Same format as Shakespearean Sonnet, but
  different rhyme scheme ABAB BCBC CDCD EE