1. Sonnets: Sonnetto meaning little song
Petrarchan, Shakespearean, Modern

2. Petrarch (1304-1374) background
Italian scholar and poet
“Father of the Sonnet”
Gave up his vocation as a priest after sighting Laura
He had very little contact with Laura as she was already married.
He channeled his feelings into love poems since he couldn’t express them to her.

3. Themes expressed in Petrarchan Sonnets
The beloved is ideally beautiful, unattainable, and cruel in rejecting the poet’s love
Love is a torment
The Lover suffers from extremes of feeling
The God of Love is harsh
Love is a religion
The eyes are the window to the soul
The poem will immortalize the beloved

4. Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet Structure
Octave: 8 rhyming lines following the iambic pentameter structure of :
a b b a a b b a or a b a b a b a b
Sestet: 6 lines that can have either two or three rhyming sound structures of:
c d c d c d c d d c d c c d e c d e c d e c e d c d c e d c
A Petrarchan sestet will never end in a couplet

5. A change in rhyming groups (octave and sestet) indicates a change in subject matter
A “Volta” or turn indicates this shift in tone/attitude at the end of the octave
The octave introduces the situation/poses a question or presents a problem
The sestet comments on the situation or answers the problem

6. Sonnet CIV by Petrarch
Each group must present a dramatic reading of their lines. You can choral read or act out. You have 10 minutes to prepare.
Each group must interpret the meaning of their specific section.
Each group will present their section and then explain the meaning of it.
The class as a whole will discuss the Volta or shift in tone

7. Shakespearean Sonnets Background
Collection of 154 Sonnets first published in 1609
The first 17 sonnets called the “procreation sonnets” are addressed to a young man
They urge him to marry and have children because he is a beautiful being who should pass on his qualities to a future generation
The subsequent sonnets discuss the SPEAKER’s love for the young man and ambiguous feelings for the speaker’s mistress
Main characters are The Fair Youth, The Rival Poet, and The Dark Lady

8. Sonnet Sequences
Definition: SONNET SEQUENCE: Also called a sonnet cycle, this term refers to a gathering or arrangement of sonnets by a single author so that the sonnets in that group or arrangement deal with a single theme, situation, a particular lady, or alternatively deal with what appears to be a sequential story. Petrarch, Sidney, Spenser, and Shakespeare all engaged in this practice, or at least the early editors of their works did. Shakespeare's 154 sonnets are best known of any sonnet sequences today. (

9. Shakespearean Sonnet Sequence
Sonnets 1-126: The Fair Youth
126 of the sonnets are dedicated to the mysterious Mr. W.H. and address The Fair Youth
These poems express the benefits of marriage and procreation and deal with the ups and downs of the relationship.
Sonnets : The Dark Lady
These poems express the difference between spiritual love and sexual desire.
These poems put an end to the Fair Youth sequence because the speaker succumbs to the dark haired lady.
Sonnets 78-86: The Rival Poet
These sonnets express the rivalry for fame and money
Sonnets 153 and 154 are Allegories for Cupid

10. Themes expressed in Shakespearean Sonnets
Parody of the Petrarchan LOVE sonnet
Toys with gender roles
Portrays human evils that do not have to do with love
Comments on political events
Ridicules LOVE
Open dialogue about sexual desires and situations
Parodies beauty

11. Shakespearean Sonnet Structure
Almost always follows the 14 line structure of:
Three 4 line quatrains
Iambic pentameter rhyming couplet
Follows the rhyme scheme of:
abab cdcd efef gg
The 3rd quatrain marks the “Volta” or shift in tone of the poem and where the poet expresses a revelation or epiphany
The couplet usually provides the theme of the sonnet

12. Sonnet 18: Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?
Read the sonnet in your group.
Label the three quatrains and the rhyme scheme of each
Label the rhyming couplet
Label the Volta
Locate and explain as many literary terms as possible
Summarize what each quatrain is expressing
Summarize what the couplet is expressing
Write a paraphrased, modern version of this sonnet
Share with class
Discuss what the theme of this poem is.

13. Sonnet 29: When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes
Read the sonnet in your group.
Label the three quatrains and the rhyme scheme of each
Label the rhyming couplet
Label the Volta
Locate and explain as many literary terms as possible
Summarize what each quatrain is expressing
Summarize what the couplet is expressing
Write a paraphrased, modern version of this sonnet
Share with class
Discuss what the theme of this poem is.
Write a thesis statement for the poem.

14. Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Wrote a series of 48 sonnets called Sonnets From the Portuguese in secret about her love for her intended Robert Browning
Modeled her sonnets after the Petrarchan form (with some variation of course!)
She hid her relationship from her disapproving father.
Elizabeth married Robert Browning and left Italy. She was disowned by the Barrett family.
Sonnet 28 represents the midpoint of their relationship where she doubts his true intentions.
Sonnet 43 expresses her love in countless comparisons