Sonnets: An Overview

The sonnet is probably the longest-lived of all poetic forms, and certainly among the prescribed form( Prescribed form is the one whose duration or length as well as structure of the whole poem is predetermined. Eg: limericks, sonnets). Sonnet is a fourteen-line poem written in iambic pentameter( Iamb is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable, penta indicates five and meter is the unit of measurement) with ten syllables to a line. It is invented by Giacomo Da Lentini in Southern Italy in 1230 AD. Francis Petrarch(1304-1374) has popularized it, hence has been acclaimed as "father of sonnets". Dante Alighiere(1265-1321), famous for "The Divine Comedy", and Guido Cavalcante( 1250-1300) are some of its significant practitioners.

Sonnets are categorized into Petrarchan and Shakespearean forms. Petrarchan or Italian form is divided into an octave and a sestet. While the octave sets the premise or proposes the subject matter, the sestet brings out conclusion or overturns whatever has been introduced in the following octave. Rhyme scheme of the octave is ABBA ABBA and that of the sestet is CDE CDE or CD CD CD or CD CD EE. Volta(thematic shift) usually takes place in the ninth line. Some important practitioners are Milton (1600), Wordsworth (late 1700 and early 1800 century), Christina Rossetti and D. G Rossetti.

Sonnets were reinvented as English or Shakespearean form by Thomas Wyatt about 1525. It is the second categorization and is divided into three quatrains and a couplet. The quatrains set the premise or propose the theme in three interconnected arguments. A couplet brings out the conclusion or overturns whatever has been proposed in the following quatrains, in coherence with that of the sestet in case of Petrarchan form of sonnets. Rhyme scheme of the quatrains are ABAB CDCD EFEF and the couplet is GG. Some important practitioners are Earl Of Surrey, William Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser and Sir Philip Sidney.

One of the most famous anthology of English songs and sonnets is Tottel's Miscellany. It was published by Richard Tottel in 1557 in London. Two pivotal poets of this collection are Thomas Wyatt and Earl of Surrey. The former translated the Petrarchan form into English form of sonnets. While the latter invented English form of sonnets, translated Petrarchan into English forms and added his own poems.

Sir Philip Sidney's "Astrophel and Stella" (1592) is a sonnet sequence of 108 sonnets and 11 songs. Astrophel is derived from two Greek words 'aster' and 'phil' together meaning starlover,and stella is derived from a latin word for 'star'. Main theme of the poems are unrequited, unfulfilled, unreciprocated and ideal love. The beloved is the epitome of perfection and deified. She is on the pedestal and the lover worships her. The theme is in well agreement with that of conventional Elizabethan diction.

Edmund Spenser slightly moves away from this tradition as there is reciprocation and consummation of love in Amoretti. Amoretti is a sonnet sequence of 89 sonnets, published by William Ponsonby in 1595,in London. Amoretti is derived from a latin word 'amor' which means love, that is in turn derived from an Italian word 'amore' with the same meaning. Another notable variant is the chain rhyme scheme. Spenserean sonnets have the rhyme scheme ABAB BCBC CDCD EE.

William Shakespeare has written 154 sonnets. Sonnet 1-126 is called "Fair Youth" sequence and is dedicated to his patron. Rest of the sonnets belong to "Dark Lady" sequence. In this series, he completely break away from the conventional description of the beloved.

Any poem which infringes few parameters of sonnets reminds us of a sonnet quite closely and we regard it by establishing some procedure to account for evolution. Deviations from conventional praise of beloved and yet qualified to be a sonnet is one such attempt.