Shakespeare's sonnets: Difference between revisions
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Shakespeare makes use of Surrey's sonnet form with an abab cdcd efef gg rhyme scheme. Its metrical structure is iambic pentameter. | Shakespeare makes use of Surrey's sonnet form with an abab cdcd efef gg rhyme scheme. Its metrical structure is iambic pentameter. | ||
The sonnets usually consist of two quartrains which emerge in a thematical octave, followed by a cesura in thought, a quartrain and a final rhyming couplet. Exceptions are sonnets 126 (which consists of rhyming couplets) and 145 (which makes use of 4 feet in one line instead of 5). The couplet is often set against the previous thoughts or else it is used for emphasis - it serves as a new form bringing reversal, new ideas or a conclusion. | The sonnets usually consist of two quartrains which emerge in a thematical octave, followed by a cesura in thought, a quartrain and a final rhyming couplet. Exceptions are sonnets 126 (which consists of rhyming couplets) and 145 (which makes use of 4 feet in one line instead of 5). The couplet is often set against the previous thoughts or else it is used for emphasis - it serves as a new form bringing reversal, new ideas or a conclusion. | ||
Though the sonnet collection seems to follow a certain chronology of sonnets, on closer consideration it is obvious that there are some irregularities. Thus, sonnets 76-86 deal with the poet's rival concerning the Fair Lord's love, but apparently sonnet 77 and sonnet 81 seem to be out of place. So, sonnet 81 offers itself to be a thematic and linguistic counterpart to sonnet 32 which itself functions as a thematically and linguistically foreign matter in its series of sonnets 29-35. According to that it is doubtful that Shakespeare's sonnets were written in the more or less precise order they appear in the collection. | |||
Shakespeare highly uses metaphors, symbols and conceits, and besides symbols of nature and love makes use of vocabulary of law, finances, medicine and so on. | Shakespeare highly uses metaphors, symbols and conceits, and besides symbols of nature and love makes use of vocabulary of law, finances, medicine and so on. | ||
Revision as of 16:13, 10 December 2012
Collection of 154 sonnets by William Shakespeare first published in 1609. The collection ends with the narrative poem "A Lover's Complaint". While the first 17 sonnets of the collection are dealing with the topic of procreation and are addressed to a young man, and sonnets 18-126 are dealing with the writer's love to the young man, the last sequence (sonnets 127-154) is dedicated to the Dark Lady.
Whereas the traditional concepts of Elizabethan (love) sonnets dealt with courtly love, Shakespeare changed some fundamental aspects such as addressing a young man and his beauty as well as contradicting the Petrarcan sonnet tradition with the sexually oriented sonnets about the Dark Lady. The sonnet collection is considered to be the end of a long sonnet tradition, particularly regarding the English and Elizabethan love sonnet.
Structure and style
Shakespeare makes use of Surrey's sonnet form with an abab cdcd efef gg rhyme scheme. Its metrical structure is iambic pentameter.
The sonnets usually consist of two quartrains which emerge in a thematical octave, followed by a cesura in thought, a quartrain and a final rhyming couplet. Exceptions are sonnets 126 (which consists of rhyming couplets) and 145 (which makes use of 4 feet in one line instead of 5). The couplet is often set against the previous thoughts or else it is used for emphasis - it serves as a new form bringing reversal, new ideas or a conclusion.
Though the sonnet collection seems to follow a certain chronology of sonnets, on closer consideration it is obvious that there are some irregularities. Thus, sonnets 76-86 deal with the poet's rival concerning the Fair Lord's love, but apparently sonnet 77 and sonnet 81 seem to be out of place. So, sonnet 81 offers itself to be a thematic and linguistic counterpart to sonnet 32 which itself functions as a thematically and linguistically foreign matter in its series of sonnets 29-35. According to that it is doubtful that Shakespeare's sonnets were written in the more or less precise order they appear in the collection.
Shakespeare highly uses metaphors, symbols and conceits, and besides symbols of nature and love makes use of vocabulary of law, finances, medicine and so on.