Sunday, March 9, 2008
Sonnets
Three quatrains, a final couplet, written in iambic pentameter and a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-g rhyme scheme, a shift of mood at the beginning of the third quatrain, and not to mention 14 lines long with the two last lines rhyming together. Such are the typical criteria of a sonnet. One might wonder how such exploits could be written considering the author is limited by this substantial number of rules that governs the composition of sonnets. However, I find that this is what makes sonnets so special. If one can truly appreciate the difficulty of writing such poetry, to wrap your mind around the skill it takes, the insightfulness and mastering of the english language an author must have, the writing of sonnets can be seen as nothing but remarkable. They are limiting in nature, but this forces the author to chose his words carefully and to improvise for the message he is trying to convey in the sonnet might not be as easy to convey as initially planned because words might have to be changed, stanzas shitfted around...in order for the sonnet to respect the rules mentioned. Since the rules make the theme, subject and intention of the sonnet more abstract, it leaves more space for the reader to analyse freely and make his own interpretation of the sonnet and in turn makes it much more interesting. Though there is nothing ground breaking about a sonnet's structure; its essentially just a poem with a specific structure that isn't particularly original, its convenient because it is long enough for the point to be communicated, yet short enough that it doesn't become tiresome or repetitive, and leaves enough to the imagination. Essay's, term papers and PHD Thesis's have been written on Shakespeare's Sonnet #18, and yet it consists of only 14 lines and doesn't seem to contain anything revolutionary, but something about it arises curiosity and a yearning to know more, which is why it is one of the most famous sonnets of all. Another example of Shakespeare's genius.
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4 comments:
hmm..that's an interesting perspective on sonnets. I never thought of it like that. Even though you make a very good point, I find that the fact that the theme or idea behind the poem is so abstract makes the poem less tangible making it more difficult to understand what view point the speaker is coming from. Getting a better idea or a clearer image of what the speaker was trying to communicate would have lead to more fruitful results. Having said that, I agree that the aloofness of these sonnets is what makes them so interesting to discuss in terms of literary analysis.
Youre right, canadian. Shakespeare rulz. i agree that sonnets truly are remarkable since the poet does have to masterfully manipulate the english language, and choose his words carefully to fit a 14-line poem(not to mention the rhyme scheme). my hat's off to him, to you, and to canada. VIVE LA FRANCE!! or canada! or whatever. im going to bed...
oh and next time dont write too much...its hurts my eyes.... :/
What you said is very interesting, however I don't really agree with you. I beleive that because they are so limiting, sonnets restrict the poet's ideas and help them narrow down their thoughts, in turn making them know exactly what to write about and what ideas to include. However, you have a point about how the poet should chose his/her words carefully, that is where the art of writing a sonnet lies.
=]
i see your point, but don't you find it can get a bit repetitive, and thus the effect the structure of the sonnet has wanes? It can also get very limiting I think, considering all the other possibilities for structure and meter and rhyme scheme and what have you.
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