Please explain to me the themes an structures of sonnets?!?

Question

In around 100 words or more please help me with the theme and structure of sonnets. ALL I KNOW is the english sonnet (Shakespearian sonnet) is written ABAB CDC EFEF GG or so my comp II teacher said.. help would be greatly appreciated!

I'm not wanting you to do an essay for me (thank you very much) but I have to discuss it in front of my summer school class and I don't want to sound like a fool!! The teach said it had to be around 100 words, thats why I said 'explain in 100 words or more'....

Answer 1

Structure: sonnets are always in iambic pentameter (10 syllables each line, alternating stressed and unstressed, with an unstressed one first: "This STUpid PREsenTAtion MAKES me CRY", for example!).

English, or Shakesperian sonnets, go ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. Italian, or Petrarchan sonnets, rhyme like ABBA CDDC EFGEFG (I think - it's been a while).

As for the reason the form is so strict, it can be very helpful when you're staring at a blank piece of paper and trying to write something. It's very, very difficult to make a freeform poem come out making sense and still sounding like "art," but pretty much anything that follows the rules for a sonnet will sound like a workable poem.

Historically, sonnets were often written about love and other angsty subjects :-) They came into fashion about the same time "being madly in love" was cool (instead of "marry whoever your parents say you have to,") and sonnets were a popular way for young men to impress their lady loves.

Answer 2

Well the best way to research this is to pick up a book and read some sonnets, but a very brief explanation is as follows:

There are three big categories of sonnets - the Shakespearean, the Petrarchan, and the Spenserian. These types are generally (and predictably) centered around themes of love. Most of Petrarch's sonnets are written about a lady named Laura. Petrarch loved Laura, but couldn't have her, as she was already married, so the poems are an embodiment of his love, so the story goes. This rhyme scheme is abbaabba cdecde.

Petrarch's sonnets feature a literary trick called a "blazon," in which he describes Laura's beauty in great detail, talking about individual parts like her eyes, lips, hair. This is pretty characteristic of his style. The first link below has some samples.

Shakespearean sonnets are very different. They are 14 lines long with an ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme. The last two lines (the "GG") are what's called a couplet, often summarizing the meaning of the whole sonnet. Shakespeare's sonnets are written in Iambic pentameter, an explanation of which is too long to go into here, but the rhythm of it is very natural, much like a human heart beat. See the second link for a few more details.

For the best look at Spenserian sonnets, go to Spenser's "Faerie Queene" (see third link"). The rhyme scheme is abab, bcbc, cdcd, ee.

Sonnets are a lot more than just rhyme scheme - don't just take Yahoo's word for it, but do some reading too!

Answer 3

Without having a sonnet to look at, I'm afraid it's not possible to discuss theme. Unless by theme you mean traditional or conventional themes, in which case you're frequently dealing with lyrical poetry, often about love or relationships.

Structurally, there are two main kinds of sonnets: the Shakespearean and the Petrarchan. You already know the form of the former, and that kind of sonnet usually follows a three-step reasoning process (one idea is discussed in the ABAB, refined in the CDCD, revisited in the EFEF, and resolved in the GG).

The other major form, the Petrarchan, is divided into two parts, an octave (a group of eight lines, ABBAABBA) and a sestet (CDECDE). The Petrarchan tends to be more deliberative--the first eight lines often pose a question, and the final six answer it.

There are plenty of other variations, but those are the most basic.

Answer 4

In addition to the above, I'd add that because of the usual two-part structure of the sonnet (8 and 6 lines, or 12 and 2 as you listed in your rhyme scheme), there is usually a contrast of ideas, or a problem and solution, or answers and a question. This change in focus is the "turn," and may be at line 9 or line 13, depending on which tradition the sonnet follows.

Common themes include love, sorrow over the passing of time, and adoration of the beloved.

By the way, your question misstates the rhyme scheme. Second line is CDCD (just your typo, maybe).

Read some with descriptions, and that should help.

My students like this source for Shakespeare info, because it has Shakespeare's original with a side-by-side explication in the same screen. This is the specific site for the sonnets:

http://nfs.sparknotes.com/sonnets/

Good luck, and do your homework.

Answer 5

Yes, the English sonnet is written in "iambic pentameter," which is what you are referring to. The structure of a sonnet is 14 lines of a set rhyme scheme. The Italian sonnets pre-date the English sonnet. If you look up a sonnet and read one it will help you understand the sound structure.
As far as themes, there are all kinds of themes. If you want to look some up here are some of the more famous poets who wrote sonnets: Wordsworth, Keats, Shakespeare, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and Christina Rosetti.
You need to do your own work though, we're not going to write your essay for you!

Answer 6

Hey...I have here an explaination which is I guess the way you need it....here it is:
Origin:
It had originated in Sicly and Province and took its first appearence in Greece. It was oiginally a short poem recited to the accompaniement of music. The word 'Sonnet' has been derived from Italian 'Sonnetto'.

The English Sonnet:
The sonnet was introduced to England in the first half of the 16th century,by Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard. It is divided into four parts and do not have any pause and turn of thought at the end of eigth line.

The subjects of Sonnets:
Despite of no set range for sonnet, Shakespeare, following the earlier Elizabethans had limited its theme to 'love'. His sonnets are in a connected chain or sequence. It was Milton who brought in the sonnet, everything within the range of human feeling and exprience.

Take care!!

Answer 7

goto this page and ul find out about the sonnet tradition, history,origins,different types, their structure and themes.

goto http://athena.english.vt.edu/~jmooney/renmats/sonnets.htm

or use a search engine and type in sonnet tradition and see for urself what u need.