Elizabethan Era Sonnets

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Questions and Answers

How does the structure of an Italian sonnet contribute to the presentation and resolution of a central idea or problem?

In an Italian sonnet, the octave (8 lines) presents a problem or idea, while the sestet (6 lines) provides a comment, solution, or resolution to that problem or idea.

What distinguishes Shakespearean sonnets from Italian sonnets in terms of stanza structure and content development?

Shakespearean sonnets use three quatrains to explore an issue from different angles and a concluding couplet to introduce a twist or summary, unlike Italian sonnets which use an octave and sestet.

Explain the significance of translations during the Elizabethan era, particularly focusing on their impact on both religious and literary fields.

Translations were significant in both religion, with the translation of the Bible into modern English, and in literature, through the translation of Italian works that introduced new styles and stories.

In what ways did Philip Sidney contribute to the development of both poetry and prose during the Elizabethan Age?

<p>Sidney contributed through his sonnet cycle <em>Astrophel and Stella</em> and his critical essay <em>Defence of Poesie</em>, showcasing his mastery in both poetic and prose forms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do Shakespeare's sonnets explore the complexities of love, and what are some of the contrasting aspects of love that he presents?

<p>Shakespeare explores love as both pure devotion and jealousy, showing it as a complex emotion with contrasting aspects that range from idealization to bitter criticism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe the main themes in Shakespeare's sonnets and explain how these themes reflect broader concerns of the Elizabethan era.

<p>Main themes include love, beauty, time, and death, reflecting Elizabethan concerns about mortality, the transient nature of beauty, and the enduring power of art and love.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is iambic pentameter and how does it contribute to the rhythm and flow of Elizabethan sonnets?

<p>Iambic pentameter is a metrical pattern of five iambic feet (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable) per line, creating a rhythmic and flowing quality in Elizabethan sonnets.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the works of Petrarch influence the development of the sonnet form in England during the Elizabethan Age?

<p>Petrarch's sonnets were translated and adapted by English poets like Wyatt and Surrey, popularizing the sonnet form and establishing its conventions in English literature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are some characteristics of Elizabethan prose writing, and what types of works exemplify this form?

<p>Characteristics include utopian essays, critical essays, religious works, and travel writings. Examples include More's <em>Utopia</em> and Sidney's <em>Defence of Poesie</em>.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe the difference between the 'fair youth' and the 'dark lady' in Shakespeare’s sonnets and their significance in the context of love.

<p>The 'fair youth' represents idealized, pure love, while the 'dark lady' represents a more complex, often tumultuous love, exploring the contrast between idealized and realistic experiences of love.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queen reflect the political and cultural climate of the Elizabethan era?

<p><em>The Faerie Queen</em> reflects the cult of Queen Elizabeth and the political climate of the Elizabethan era through its allegorical representation of virtues and the idealization of the Queen.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are Shakespeare's sonnets considered to be among the most important and debated works in English literature?

<p>They delve into universal themes, they make heavy use of metaphor, and questions remain about date and audience. This leads to continued consideration modern scholars.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did Sir Thomas Wyatt and the Earl of Surrey play in introducing the sonnet to English literature?

<p>They translated Petrarch's sonnets into English, adapting the Italian sonnet form for English audiences and paving the way for future English sonnet writers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the translation of the Bible into English during the Elizabethan Age impact religious and cultural life in England?

<p>It allowed more people to access and interpret religious texts, fostering a more direct relationship with religious texts and promoting literacy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain how the sonnet form, as used by Elizabethan writers, reflects the era's interest in both classical models and innovation?

<p>Elizabethan writers adopted the classical sonnet form, but innovated by adapting its structure and themes, blending traditional form with contemporary ideas and concerns.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

What is a sonnet?

A 14-line poetic composition, perfected by Petrarch and popularized in Elizabethan literature.

Who was Petrarch?

Italian poet who perfected the sonnet form, later translated and adapted in England.

Philip Sidney's Sonnets

Reflects Petrarch's idea of unattainable women and explores love from various perspectives.

Shakespeare's Sonnets

Collection of 154 sonnets exploring universal themes with rich metaphors and conceits.

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Examples of Elizabethan Prose

Essays, romances, religious works, political speeches, and travel writings.

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Thomas More's 'Utopia'

A philosophical essay in the form of a travel book about an imaginary society.

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Sidney's 'Defence of Poesie'

Deep defense of poetry in response to critiques, exemplifies early literary criticism.

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Translations in Elizabethan Era

English authors translated foreign works, especially from Italian traditions (Boccaccio).

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Religious Translations

The Bible was translated into modern English, exemplified by the Tyndale Bible (1534).

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What are Sonnets?

14-line poems written in iambic pentameter.

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Types of Sonnets

Italian (Petrarchan) and English (Shakespearean or Elizabethan).

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Italian Sonnet Structure

An octave (8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines).

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English Sonnet Structure

Three quatrains (4 lines each) and a final couplet (2 lines).

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Common Sonnet Themes

Love, beauty, art, time, death. Conventionally, the most common theme is love.

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Shakespeare's sonnets as autobiography?

Personal diary reflecting on love, beauty, death and poetry.

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Study Notes

  • Poetic production during the Elizabethan Age was varied and rich
  • The sonnet is the prominent poetic form of Elizabethan Literature

Triumph of Sonnets

  • The 14-line poetic composition was brought to perfection by Petrarch
  • Sir Thomas Wyatt and the Earl of Surrey imported this form to England
  • Wyatt and Surrey translated Petrarch and published in Tottel's Miscellany (1557)
  • Philip Sidney (1554-86) used the sonnet in Astrophel and Stella (1581), the 16th century's popular sonnet cycle
  • Sidney's poems reflect Petrarch's view that woman is unattainable
  • Sidney explores love through hope, joy, suffering, bitterness, despair, and tenderness viewpoints
  • Edmund Spenser (1552-1599) published Amoretti (1595), a collection of sonnets
  • Spenser also wrote The Faerie Queene (1590-96), a famous allegorical poem for Queen Elizabeth's cult
  • William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a playwright and sonnet writer
  • Shakespeare's collection of 154 sonnets is known as Sonnets (1609)
  • Shakespeare's poetry explores universal themes with rich metaphors and conceits

Age of Exquisite Prose

  • Elizabethan literature is known for plays and poems
  • The Elizabethan Age had exquisite prose writing
  • Elizabethan prose consists of utopian essays, critical essays, romances, religious works, political speeches, and travel writings

Utopian Writing

  • Thomas More's Utopia (1516) is the first example of Elizabethan prose
  • Utopia is a travel book about an imaginary society on an imaginary island in the New World
  • Utopia was written in Latin and translated into English
  • Utopia inaugurated the utopian literature genre

Essays and Travel Writing

  • Philip Sidney was a master of prose
  • His Defence of Poesie (1595) is an example of literary criticism in English literature
  • Sidney defends poetry in response to critique
  • Travel writing was widely adopted
  • Richard Hakluyt (1530-91) was a main representative of travel writing and an advocate of Elizabethan colonial expansionism

Translations

  • The Elizabethan Age involved many translations
  • English authors translated foreign works like Boccaccio and Matteo Bandello's short stories from the Italian tradition
  • Religion played an important role in translations
  • The Bible was translated into modern English, Tyndale Bible (1534)
  • William Caxton first printed the Tyndale Bible

Mysteries of Shakespeare's Sonnets

  • Shakespeare's Sonnets are fascinating and mysterious
  • Their author, identity, and actual existence are debated
  • It is uncertain if Shakespeare authorized their publication
  • Their sequence and the order they were intended in is unsure
  • The exact date of composition may be between 1585 and 1609
  • The source of inspiration is unknown
  • Whether they are poetic exercises or a personal diary is unknown
  • If autobiographical, Shakespeare's sonnets show personal reflections on love, beauty, death, and poetry

Style of Shakespeare's Sonnets

  • Shakespeare's Sonnets contain 154 poetic compositions
  • Sonnets are 14-line poems written in iambic pentameter.
  • Italian (Petrarchan) sonnets and English (Shakespearean or Elizabethan) sonnets were common in the Elizabethan Era
  • Arrangement of lines/stanzas differentiates them
  • Italian sonnets are an 8-line stanza/octave and a 6-line stanza/sestet
  • They rhyme ABBA ABBA CDE CDE
  • English sonnets have 4-line stanzas/quatrains, and two line stanzas/couplets
  • They rhyme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
  • Content is organized differently due to formal differences
  • Italian sonnets present a problem in the octave, and comment/solve in the sestet
  • English sonnets have reflections on a particular problem or issue in the first three quatrains
  • The final couplet (lines 13-14) introduces a turning point with an unexpected conclusion, paradox, or ironic comment

Elizabethan Sonnets

  • Elizabethan sonnets have 14 lines
  • Have three quatrains
  • End with a couplet
  • Written in iambic pentameter
  • Have a turning point at the beginning of the couplet
  • Focus on the themes of love, time, and poetry

Main Themes of Shakespeare's Sonnets

  • Shakespeare's Sonnets explore universal themes such as love, beauty, art, time, and death
  • Their prevalent theme is love
  • Love is complex, multi-layered, and contradictory
  • Represented as pure devotion, jealousy, bitter criticism, and sexual lust
  • The first group of sonnets (1-126) focus on the poet's love for the 'fair youth' whom the author convinces to marry
  • The second group (127-154) focus on the love for the 'dark lady', a woman who is unfaithful and causes suffering to the poet
  • The two lovers represent ideal opposites, give the poet the opportunity to explore all the nuances of love
  • Possibly hide Earl of Southampton
  • Love is related to beauty and immortality
  • The brevity of life and ineluctable death is underlined
  • Solutions: marrying and having children, or poetry
  • The poet believes that his verses will eternalise the beauty of the lover

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