Compare how the conventions of the sonnet

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Compare how the conventions of the sonnet genre combine with figurative language to create meaning in at least two texts.

Originating in Italy, the sonnet was established by Petrarch in the 14th century as a major form of love poetry, and came to be adopted in England in the 16th century (Oxford Literary terms). Overtime there have been different types of sonnets written, for example the Italian (Petrarchan) sonnet, the English (Shakespearean) sonnet and the Spenserian sonnet. Each of these sonnets have there own conventions and use different types of poetic language to help create meaning for the reader. For the purpose of this essay we will look at how the conventions of sonnets combine specifically with figurative language to create meaning. We will begin by looking briefly at the three types of sonnet conventions before moving on to look at William Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 18’ and ‘Sonnet 73’ to show how meaning is created through the combination of conventions and figurative language.

As earlier mentioned, there are different types of sonnet, the major types being Italian, Shakespearean and Spenserian, each having their own sonnet form. All forms generally have some common features, such as comprising of fourteen lines and being written in iambic pentameter. The Italian sonnet has an eight-line octave, which usually raises an issue/argument followed by a six-line sestet where the issue/argument is resolved. The octave has a rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA, and the sestet can have either two or three rhyming sounds arranged in a variety of ways, for example CDCDCD, CDDCDC, CDECDE thus making the sestet very flexible. The Shakespearean sonnet comprises of three quatrains and a final rhyming couplet. The three quatrains will develop an issue and the couplet normally summarizes or concludes. A typical rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet would be that of ABABCDCDEFEFGG. Spenserian sonnets combine both the Shakespearean and Italian forms. Just like the Shakespearean form it uses 3 quatrains followed by a couplet. However the rhyme scheme is like the Italian, linking all stanzas together ABABBCBCCDCDEE. An essential element of all three types of sonnets is that of the volta which is used to signify a change in subject matter, for example in the Italian form the volta normally occurs at the ninth line. The two sonnets I will be examining within this essay predominantly use the conventions of a Shakespearean sonnet.

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When exploring the conventions of ‘Sonnet 18’ we can see it has the typical conventions of a Shakespearean sonnet using three quatrains and a rhyming couplet. The first quatrain establishes the theme of comparing the speaker’s beloved with a summer’s day, and why it is difficult to do so. The whole of ‘sonnet 18’ is used as an extended metaphor, and this is seen from the very beginning:

     Shall I compare thee to a summers day?

     Thou art more lovely and more temperate (1-2)

The sonnet begins with a metaphoric question, asking if the ...

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