1. The Sonnet

2. Petrarchan/Italian ABBAABBACDCDCD Petarch: father of Humanism
the human form is manifest of the divine
individualism, emotionalism, hedonism
14th century Italy
Considered one of the first modern poets
Laura was his muse
Petrarchan conceit: a metaphor comparing the beloved to the divine or great

3. Petrarch’s “Sonnet 159”
In what bright realm, what sphere of radiant thought A
Did Nature find the model whence she drew B
That delicate dazzling image where we view B
Here on this earth what she in heaven wrought? A
What fountain-haunting nymph, what dryad, sought A
In groves, such golden tresses ever threw B
Upon the gust? What heart such virtues knew?— B
Though her chief virtue with my death is frought. A
TURN/VOLTA
He looks in vain for heavenly beauty, he C
Who never looked upon her perfect eyes, D
The vivid blue orbs turning brilliantly – C
He does not know how Love yields and denies; D
He only knows, who knows how sweetly she C
Can talk and laugh, the sweetness of her sighs. D

4. Shakespearean/English
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Closing couplet usually plays with both ideas “closing” and/or “couple”
Iambic pentameter
16th and 17th century England
Humanistic elements
More realistic, lasting love
Anti-petrarchan conceits (“my mistress’s eyes are nothing like the sun”)
Sonnet Sequence

5. Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 130”
My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun; A
Coral is far more red than her lips’ red; B
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; A
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. B
I have seen roses damask’d, red and white, C
But no such roses see I in her cheeks; D
And in some perfumes is there more delight C
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. D
I love to hear her speak, yet will I know E
That music hath a far more pleasing sound; F
I grant that I never saw a goddess go; E
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground. F
TURN/VOLTA
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare G
As any she belied with false compare. G

6. Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 30”
When to the sessions of sweet silent thought I summon up remembrance of things past, I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought, And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste: Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow, For precious friends hid in death's dateless night, And weep afresh love's long since cancell'd woe, And moan the expense of many a vanish'd sight: Then can I grieve at grievances foregone, And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan, Which I new pay as if not paid before. But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, All losses are restored and sorrows end.

7. Create an English Sonnet
Write several lines (a quatrain?) of a sonnet.
Try to emulate Shakespeare’s ideas and language.
Write in iambic pentameter and use the rhyme scheme.
See how difficult it is?