Renaissance PoetryRenaissance Poetry

SonnetsSonnets

SonnetsSonnets

Sonnets are fourteen-line lyric Sonnets are fourteen-line lyric poems focusing on a single poems focusing on a single theme. Sonnets are usually in theme. Sonnets are usually in iambic pentameter (ten syllable iambic pentameter (ten syllable lines with stress on every second lines with stress on every second syllable) and have a specific syllable) and have a specific rhyme scheme.rhyme scheme.

Renaissance SonnetsRenaissance Sonnets

Renaissance poets often wrote Renaissance poets often wrote sonnet sequences. Sonnet sonnet sequences. Sonnet sequences are groups of sonnets sequences are groups of sonnets (often times one hundred or (often times one hundred or more) linked by a theme or the more) linked by a theme or the addressee (the person to whom addressee (the person to whom the sonnet is addressed).the sonnet is addressed).

Renaissance SonnetsRenaissance Sonnets

The most important Renaissance The most important Renaissance sonnet writers aresonnet writers are

Edmund SpenserEdmund Spenser

Sir Philip SidneySir Philip Sidney

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Sir Thomas WyattSir Thomas Wyatt

Renaissance SonnetsRenaissance Sonnets

The most popular Renaissance sonnet The most popular Renaissance sonnet rhyme schemes includerhyme schemes include

the the Petrarchan sonnetPetrarchan sonnet (also known (also known as the Italian sonnet)as the Italian sonnet)

the the Spenserian sonnetSpenserian sonnet

The The Shakespearean sonnetShakespearean sonnet (also (also known as the English or Elizabethan known as the English or Elizabethan sonnet)sonnet)

Renaissance SonnetsRenaissance Sonnets

Students need to memorize the Students need to memorize the sonnet rhyme schemes in order sonnet rhyme schemes in order to identify a sonnet by its to identify a sonnet by its scheme.scheme.

Petrarchan/Italian SonnetsPetrarchan/Italian Sonnets

This sonnet contains an This sonnet contains an octaveoctave (8 lines) (8 lines) and a and a sestetsestet (6 lines). The octave (6 lines). The octave often presents a problem that the often presents a problem that the sestet answers.sestet answers.

The rhyme scheme of the octave is The rhyme scheme of the octave is abbaabbaabbaabba

The rhyme scheme of the sestet may The rhyme scheme of the sestet may vary. It is most frequently vary. It is most frequently cdecdecdecde, but , but also appears as also appears as cdedcecdedce, , cdcdcdcdcdcd, and , and others.others.

Spenserian SonnetsSpenserian Sonnets

The Spenserian sonnet consists of The Spenserian sonnet consists of three quatrains (4 lines) and a three quatrains (4 lines) and a couplet (2 rhymed lines). The rhyme couplet (2 rhymed lines). The rhyme scheme of a Spenserian sonnet is scheme of a Spenserian sonnet is abab, bcbc, cdcd, eeabab, bcbc, cdcd, ee..

Shakespearean/English/Shakespearean/English/Elizabethan SonnetsElizabethan Sonnets

The Shakespearean sonnet also The Shakespearean sonnet also utilizes 3 quatrains (4 lines) and a utilizes 3 quatrains (4 lines) and a couplet (2 rhymed lines). The first couplet (2 rhymed lines). The first twelve lines often present a problem twelve lines often present a problem resolved in the couplet. The couplet resolved in the couplet. The couplet often contains irony which turns the often contains irony which turns the meaning suggested in the first 12 meaning suggested in the first 12 lines. The rhyme scheme of this lines. The rhyme scheme of this sonnet is sonnet is abab, cdcd, efef, ggabab, cdcd, efef, gg