How do you feel about sonnets as a poetic form? Do you like their structure or do you find them too limiting? Use one of the sonnets we have discussed in class or one that you have read on your own as an example of what you mean.
Sonnets have very specific requirements, making them a bit limiting. Typical sonnets are written in iambic pentameter, and are made up of fourteen lines, specifically three quatrains, a couplet, and the ninth line serving as the turning point or Volta. In addition, sonnets usually have rhyme schemes of abab cdcd efef gg, giving them a certain rhythm to read aloud. Shakespearian sonnets are categorized in different groups since they fall under specific themes, making them a bit repetitive. For example, in English class, we discussed sonnets 1 and 2, both addressing the same them of procreation versus masturbation. They were very similar and had the same ideas. The structures of sonnets are very restrictive, since it is necessary for them to follow the rhyme scheme, have a certain theme, and include a Volta. Hence most of the poem is already done, the way the poet puts everything together is where his/her creativity is shown.
March 11, 2008
Sonnets
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2 comments:
ok, so I agree that the structure is limited and that they do become repetitive, but don't you think that writing twice about the same subject makes the second one that much harder? If he's conveying the same message in both, then he must take in a similar wordbank, but that's just it. He can't have the same sonnet twice so he has to change the words but make them respect the rules just as well, and find another way to get his message through.
Its good, but you could have said more of what you thought of sonnets instead of simply stating what they are:)
Well written, but you could have elaborated a bit more on your personal opinion instead of focusing too much on the structure. I agree with you however, that sonnets are certainly limiting in many respects. I too found them to be repetitive in a sense, but after reading Hadrien's comment, it really made me think about the amount of creativity required to exhibit similar ideas but use different wording.
Good job
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