Definition of a Sonnet
A sonnet is a fixed poetic form consisting of 14 lines, typically written in iambic pentameter, which follows a rhythmic pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. Originating in 13th-century Italy, sonnets were popularized by poets like Petrarch and later adapted in English literature by Shakespeare. They often explore profound themes such as love, beauty, mortality, and human experience through structured rhyme and meter.
Key Structures and Types
Sonnets adhere to specific rhyme schemes and divisions. The Petrarchan (or Italian) sonnet divides into an octave (eight lines) with rhyme scheme ABBAABBA and a sestet (six lines) varying as CDECDE or CDCDCD, presenting a problem and resolution. The Shakespearean (or English) sonnet uses three quatrains (ABAB CDCD EFEF) and a final couplet (GG), building tension toward a volta or turn in the concluding lines. Both forms employ iambic pentameter for a musical quality.
Practical Example: Shakespeare's Sonnet 18
In William Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, the poem begins: 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? / Thou art more lovely and more temperate.' This Shakespearean sonnet follows the ABAB CDCD EFEF GG scheme, using the first 12 lines to compare a beloved's beauty to summer's imperfections, then the couplet asserts immortality through poetry: 'So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, / So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.' This illustrates how sonnets blend imagery and argument.
Importance and Literary Applications
Sonnets hold enduring importance in literature for their concise yet expressive structure, allowing poets to delve into complex emotions within strict constraints. They influenced Romantic poets like Wordsworth and Keats, and continue in modern works by authors such as Edna St. Vincent Millay. Sonnets teach discipline in writing, highlight thematic depth, and remain a staple in literary education for analyzing rhetorical devices and emotional nuance.