Renaissance Poetry Sonnet Basics l 14 line Lyric

Renaissance Poetry

Sonnet Basics l 14 line Lyric Poem - Octave (8 lines) Sestet (6 lines) 3 quatrains followed by a Couplet (2 lines) Rhyme Scheme Volta: (Italian: “turn”) the turn in thought in a sonnet that is often indicated by such words as But, Yet, or And yet.

Carpe Diem Poetry and Cavalier Poets l Yes, it translates to “seize the day”, but why is that important? Especially to this time period? l The idea that people should think for themselves and if they make a mistake, then they will learn from them l Robert Herrick – “To The Virgins…” l “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love”

Pastoral Poetry l Characteristics l Shepherds in a rural setting l Tend to use formal, courtly speech in meters and rhyme scheme l Idealistic l Often involve the message “carpe diem” l “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” l “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd” mimics this idea; more sarcastic and realistic

“Whoso List to Hunt” by Sir Thomas Wyatt l What type of poem is this? l Italian Sonnet l Brought the Italian sonnet form to British literature l Refers to Anne Boleyn as the deer l Caesar is a referenced l Hind (deer) is symbolism as king’s property

Sonnets l 3 forms l English (Shakespearean) l Consists of 3 quatrains and a final couplet l l Italian (Petrachan) l Has an octave and a sestet l l - Couplet provides a final commentary on the subject in the 3 quatrains octave presents a problem or raises a question Sestet presents the solution or comments on the problem Spensarian - Interlocking rhyme scheme Same structure as Shakespearean sonnet Each form is slightly different, but all keep the same basic format of 14 lines

Metaphysical Poets l Used elaborate metaphors to explore life’s complexities l What is another name for an extended metaphor? CONCEITS l Common themes of love, death, and religious devotion l Examples? John Donne; Ben Jonson

Poems on your test l Sir Thomas Wyatt – “Whoso List to Hunt” l Petrachan sonnet, a mix of pastoral and carpe diem, however the speaker knows that he cannot l Sir Edmund Spenser – Sonnet 75 l Eternizing conceit l Shakespeare – Sonnet 18, 116, and 130 l Theme of love; Sonnet 130 is different because it’s sarcastic

l Marlowe – “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love”