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Elizabethan England

In the late 1500's it was fashionable for English gentleman authors to write sonnets, lyric poems composed of 14 lines. The sonnet is composed with a formal rhyme scheme, denoting different thoughts, moods, or emotions, sometimes summed up in the last lines of the poem.

The two main forms of the sonnet are the Petrarchan (Italian) and the Shakespearean (English).

Sonnets had been glorified by Petrarch in Italy more than 200 years before English poets even knew about them. Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, were among the first to introduce the sonnet into England. William Shakespeare's first and second years in London were spent writing in the Petrarchan style. The Petrarchan sonnet has an eight line stanza, or octave, and six-line stanza, or sestet. The octave has two quatrains, rhyming abba, abba, but avoiding a couplet; the first quatrain gives the theme, and the second develops it. The sestet is built on two or three different rhymes; the first three lines reflect on the theme, and the last three lines bring the whole poem to an end.

William Shakespeare composed 154 sonnets in his lifetime. After his first two years in London, Shakespeare started writing in the English sonnet form. According to some scholars, the English sonnet was made for a language less beautiful in rhymes than Italian.

It differs from the Petrarchan sonnets in that it is divided into three quatrains, each rhymed differently, with an independently rhymed couplet at the end. The rhyme scheme of the English sonnet is abab, cdcd, efef, gg. Each quatrain takes a different appearance of the idea or develops a different image to express the theme. All of Shakespeare's sonnets were in this form except for the poems he wrote earlier in life.The 154 sonnets can be formed three groups:

1. Twenty-six sonnets written mostly to a young man, 17 of them urging marriage.

2. One hundred and one sonnets, also written to a young man (probably the same young nobleman as in the first 26). These have a variety of themes, such as the beauty of the loved one; destruction of beauty; competition with a Rival Poet; despair about the absence of a loved one; and reaction toward the young man's coldness.

3. The remaining 27 sonnets are written mainly to a woman, popularly known as "The Dark Lady." Many students of Shakespeare's work believe that he had a love affair with this woman.

Most Elizabethan sonnets were written about joys and sorrows of love. Some of Shakespeare's sonnet arrangements are thought to be autobiographical. This is why scholars have tried to learn about William Shakespeare's life from his sonnets.

This is an example of the Shakespearean sonnet form:

So oft have I invoked thee for my Muse, (A)
And found such faire assistance in my verse, (B)
As every Alien pen hath got my use, (A)
And under thee their poesy disperse. (B)
Thine eyes, that taught the dumb on high to sing, (C)
And heavy ignorance aloft to flie, (D)
Have added feathers to the learned's wing, (C)
And given grace a double majestie. (D)
Yet be most proud of that which I compile, (E)
Whose influence is thine and born of thee, (F)
In others'works thou dost but mend the style (E)
And arts with thy sweet graces graced be. (F)
But thou art all my art, and dost advance (G)
As high as learning my rude ignorance. (G)

Sonnet 78 (above) is typical of Shakespeare's use of the English form of the sonnet with its rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg. In sonnet 78, the first few lines reflect on the theme of his writings, and the last two lines bring the sonnet to a conclusion. This sonnet clearly shows that Southhamptons (another poet who later became a rival) is giving help to one or more rivals. "The dumbe," and "heavie ignorance" in the final couplet of the sonnet may be Shakespeare himself, according to some scholars. The "learned's wing" represents another poet to which Southampton had given motivation.

William Shakespeare composed 154 sonnets in his lifetime. He is also noted as being the first writer to be commemorated at Westminster Abbey's poet's corner. There also is a bust of him over a door at Westminster Abbey. Shakespeare's personal life is strongly reflected in his sonnets.

Berry, Frances. The Shakespeare Inset. Carbondale IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1965.

This book discusses the theories about the sonnets as narrative poems.It also contains very good information about the time period in which the sonnets were written.

Elwis, Susie. William Shakespeare. New York: Harper Collins Publishers,1995.

The chapter entitled "Masters of the Revels" explores the ideas about the person to whom Shakespeare wrote the sonnets. This book also contains many drawings of the Shakespearean times.

Evans, Gareth, and Barbara Loyd. The Shakespeare Companion. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1978.

This book tells a lot about the literary form of the sonnet. It also contains a good background on the origin of the sonnet and discusses how many people view the writings of William Shakespeare.

Fido, Martin. Shakespeare. New Jersey: Hammond Incorporated, 1978.

The chapter entitled "The Sonnets" is very informative on the myths behind many of Shakespeare's sonnets. It also briefly describes some of the ideas about the person to whom Shakespeare wrote the sonnets.

*Fox, Levi. The Shakespeare Handbook. Boston Massachusetts: G. K. Hall and Co.,1987.

The chapter entitled "Poetry" gives in-depth information on the formulation of the Shakespearean sonnets. This book also includes several detailed pictures of what the sonnets look like in written for

Frye, Roland. Shakespeare's Life and Times. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1967.

This book gives a great overview on William Shakespeare's life. Very detailed information on the sonnets begins on page 100.

Gurr, Andrew. William Shakespeare. New York: Harper Perennial, 1995.

This modern book recreates images from Shakespeare's times. It also contains highly detailed photographs of how Shakespearean times were.

Harris, Ellen T. "Shakespeare in Music." William Shakespeare, His World, His Work, His Influence. By John F. Andrews. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1985.

This essay contains valuable information on how William Shakespeare's work has influenced the the world.

Wait, R.J.C. The Background to Shakespeare's Sonnets. New York: Shocken Books,1972.

This book goes into great detail about the sonnets. It is a definite must for this topic.

Wright, George T. "Shakespeare's Poetic Techniques" William Shakespeare, His World, His Work, His Influence. By John F. Andrews. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1985.

This essay goes into a detailed discussion of how the sonnets were formed. It also contains very good information on more of Shakespeare's writings.