Poetry: Sonnet

Question 1

What is a sonnet?

Answer 1

It is a lyrical poem of fourteen lines written in iambic pentameter.

Question 2

What is the Italian form of Sonnets?

Answer 2

The Italian pattern comprises an octave and a sestet.
The lines rhyme;
A B B A, A B B A, C D, C D, C D. or C D E, C D E.

The octave initiates one theme and a development or other aspect of it is found in the sestet. There is usually a pivotal word such as “nevertheless”,”however”, or “but” at the beginning of the sestet.

Question 3

What is the English form of Sonnets?

Answer 3

The English pattern comprises three four line stanzas followed by a couplet.
The lines rhyme;
A B A B, C D C D, E F E F, GG.

It develops one theme but three aspects of it are possible, with a summary of the whole theme in the couplet.

Question 4

What do sonnets do?

Answer 4

They express an important personal expression of thought of feeling.

Question 5

The history of the sonnet

Answer 5

In the 16th Century the topic was usually the love of a woman then it extended to the love of God, death etc.

In the Romantic Age love of nature became a popular subject.