The Evolutionary Poets Consortium : Forum : Sonnets


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Sonnets

15 Years Ago


Sonnets

Definition of Sonnets
How do you define Sonnets? What is the definition of Sonnets?
The definition of Sonnets is as follows:
 

Definition of Sonnets

English (or Shakespearean) sonnets are lyric poems that are 14 lines long falling into three coordinate quatrains and a concluding couplet. Italian (or Petrarchan) sonnets are divided into two quatrains and a six-line sestet.
 

 

Example of Sonnets
There are many examples of different types of poetry. An example of a beautiful Sonnet can be found in the poetic work of William Shakespeare ( 1564 - 1616 ).
 

Example of Sonnets - Excerpt

O thou my lovely boy
by
William Shakespeare

O thou, my lovely boy, who in thy power
Dost hold Time's fickle glass his fickle hour;
Who hast by waning grown, and therein show'st
Thy lovers withering, as thy sweet self grow'st.

Click the following link for the full version of O thou my lovely boy - Sonnet 126

Example of a Sonnet
 

 

Forms of Poetry and Literary Terms
How do you define a couplet or a Falling Meter? And what exactly is an Iambic pentameter? We have provided a definition of poetry and literary terms together with the meaning and examples, such as the above definition of Sonnets. A helpful educational resource for those taking an English test or a University student studying English and American Literature. Each definition, such as the above definition and example of Sonnets will provide a glossary of literary terms or a dictionary with the meaning, samples, examples and the rules of specialising in each different type of poem and poetry.
 

Definition of Poetry
Poetry is piece of literature written by a poet in meter or verse expressing various emotions which are expressed by the use of variety of techniques including metaphors, similes and onomatopoeia. The emphasis on the aesthetics of language and the use of techniques such as repetition, meter and rhyme are what are commonly used to distinguish poetry from prose. Poems often make heavy use of imagery and word association to quickly convey emotions. An example of Sonnets is detailed above.

Structure of Poetry
The structure used in poems varies with different types of poetry and can be seen in the above example of Sonnets. The structural elements include the line, couplet, strophe and stanza. Poets combine the use of language and a specific structure to create imaginative and expressive work. The structure used in some Poetry types are also used when considering the visual effect of a finished poem. The structure of many types of poetry  result in groups of lines on the page which enhance the poem's composition.