English Poetry: Learn about THE SONNET
The Sonnet and Its Origins
The sonnet originated in 13th century Italy and was initially written in Italian. By the 16th century,
it had made its way to England, where sonnets written in English started to appear. One of the
most famous sonnet writers was Shakespeare, who published 154 sonnets in one book.
Analysis of Shakespeare's Sonnet
One of Shakespeare's sonnets starts with the line "The dear repose for limbs with travel tired,"
which means to rest and sleep. The sonnet then takes a turn as the narrator talks about a journey
in his head. He is physically resting, but mentally he can't stop thinking about someone. His
thoughts are so strong that they feel almost religious. The journey in his head is like a pilgrimage
to the person whom he can't stop thinking about, and even though he wants to fall asleep, he
can't because his mind won't let him.
If you look at the end of each line without worrying about its meaning, you might notice a pattern
of repeated rhyming. Sonnets do this in different patterns based on what the poet wants to do
with the poem. To show the rhyme scheme, we use letters. The rhyme scheme creates structure
for the poem and holds certain lines together. For example, ABAB, CDCD, and there will be more
to come.
The poem's speaker is thinking of someone who is shining brightly like a jewel. The comparison
to a diamond makes this person sound very important and valuable. The jewel hanging in the
darkness even makes the black night beautiful. Lastly, the poet states "her old face new," which
is difficult to interpret.
The poem, originally written/published in 1609, captures a universal experience that many can
relate to. Let's continue and finish the rhyme scheme, which follows abab, cdcd, efef, and gg -
classic Shakespearean style. For more insights into Shakespeare, check out my lesson on his use
of everyday language.
The Sonnet and Its Origins
The sonnet originated in 13th century Italy and was initially written in Italian. By the 16th century,
it had made its way to England, where sonnets written in English started to appear. One of the
most famous sonnet writers was Shakespeare, who published 154 sonnets in one book.
Analysis of Shakespeare's Sonnet
One of Shakespeare's sonnets starts with the line "The dear repose for limbs with travel tired,"
which means to rest and sleep. The sonnet then takes a turn as the narrator talks about a journey
in his head. He is physically resting, but mentally he can't stop thinking about someone. His
thoughts are so strong that they feel almost religious. The journey in his head is like a pilgrimage
to the person whom he can't stop thinking about, and even though he wants to fall asleep, he
can't because his mind won't let him.
If you look at the end of each line without worrying about its meaning, you might notice a pattern
of repeated rhyming. Sonnets do this in different patterns based on what the poet wants to do
with the poem. To show the rhyme scheme, we use letters. The rhyme scheme creates structure
for the poem and holds certain lines together. For example, ABAB, CDCD, and there will be more
to come.
The poem's speaker is thinking of someone who is shining brightly like a jewel. The comparison
to a diamond makes this person sound very important and valuable. The jewel hanging in the
darkness even makes the black night beautiful. Lastly, the poet states "her old face new," which
is difficult to interpret.
The poem, originally written/published in 1609, captures a universal experience that many can
relate to. Let's continue and finish the rhyme scheme, which follows abab, cdcd, efef, and gg -
classic Shakespearean style. For more insights into Shakespeare, check out my lesson on his use
of everyday language.
