Portrait of an unknown gentleman

by Isaac Oliver, ca. 1595

The sonnet
The sonnet

1. Main characteristics
A fourteen-line poem in iambic pentameter.

A carefully patterned rhyme scheme.

Invented by the Italian Iacopo da Lentini in the first half of

the 13th century.

Introduced into England by Sir Thomas Wyatt.

Two types of sonnet: Petrarchan and Shakespearean.

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The sonnet

2. Petrarchan sonnet
An octave rhyming ABBAABBA.

A sestet rhyming CDECDE or CDCDCD.

A turning point at the end of the 8th line.

The 9th line is sometimes introduced by words like: and,

if, so, but, yet.

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The sonnet

2. Petrarchan sonnet
The octave has the purpose to:

introduce a problem (the poet describes his being struck with

the sight of his woman)

express a desire

reflect on reality

present a situation that causes doubt or conflict in the poet

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The sonnet

2. Petrarchan sonnet
The first quatrain introduces the problem.
The second quatrain develops it.

The lively sparks that issue from those eyes,

Against the which there vaileth no defence,
Have pierced my heart, and done it none offence,
With quaking pleasure more than once or twice.
5 Was never man could any thing devise,
Sunbeams to turn with so great vehemence
To daze man's sight, as by their bright presence
Dazed am I; much like unto the guise

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The sonnet

2. Petrarchan sonnet
The beginning of the sestet is known as the volta, and it
introduces a pronounced change in tone in the sonnet.
The sestets purpose is to make a comment on the problem or
to apply a solution to it.

Of one stricken with dint of lightning,

Blind with the stroke, and cying (1) here and there:
10 So call I for help, I not (2) when nor where,
The pain of my fall patiently bearing:
For straight after the blaze, as is no wonder,
Of deadly noise hear I the fearful thunder.
(Sir Thomas Wyatt)

1 Or, erring.
2 i.e. know not. Only Connect ... New Directions
The sonnet

3. Shakespearean sonnet
Three quatrains rhyming ABABCDCDEFEF.

A couplet rhyming EE.

A turning point at the end of the 8th line.

The 9th line is sometimes introduced by words like: and, if,

so, but, yet, nor.

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3. Shakespearean sonnet
The first quatrain introduces an idea:
When my love swears that she is made of truth
I do believe her, though I know she lies,
That she might think me some untutor'd youth,
Unlearned in the world's false subtleties.

The second quatrain complicates it:

5 Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,

Although she knows my days are past the best,
Simply I credit her false speaking tongue:
On both sides thus is simple truth suppress'd.

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3. Shakespearean sonnet
The third complicates it still further:
But wherefore says she not she is unjust?
10 And wherefore say not I that I am old?
O, love's best habit is in seeming trust,
And age in love loves not to have years told:

The final epigrammatic couplet resolves the whole thing:

Therefore I lie with her and she with me,
And in our faults by lies we flatter'd be.
(W. Shakespeare, Sonnet 138)

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4. Table of comparison
Petrarchan sonnet Shakespearean sonnet

14 lines of iambic pentameter 14 lines of iambic pentameter

Division into 2 sections: Division into 4 sections:

the octave presents a problem 3 quatrains present a problem
or situation or situation
the sestet solves or clarifies a couplet solves or summarizes
the situation the problem.

Rhyme scheme: Rhyme scheme:

ABABABAB or ABBAABBA for ABAB Quatrain I
the octave CDCD Quatrain II
CDECDE or CDCDEE EFEF Quatrain III
for the sestet GG Couplet

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