Renaissance Sonnets
Influences on Renaissance Poetry
During the Renaissance, people wrote poetry to entertain friends, to express emotions, and to comment on society. Being able to recite or write poetry was looked upon highly in sophisticated society. In this interactivity, click the vertical tabs to examine a list of important influences on Renaissance poetry in greater detail. Click the player button to begin.
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Sonnets
What Is a Sonnet?
One of the most common forms of poetry written during the Renaissance was the sonnet. A sonnet is a fourteen-line poem written in a particular meter, or rhythm. Once sonnets became popular in England, they were usually written in iambic pentameter. Iambic pentameter is a rhythm that most closely mimics everyday speech. Iamb means "foot," which is how meter is measured. Pentameter means "five," which means that there are five iambs (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable), for a total of ten syllables in each line.
Sonnets originated in Italy; in fact, the word sonnet means "little song" in Italian. Sonnets were written in three main styles: the Italian, or Petrarchan, sonnet; the English, or Shakespearean, sonnet; and the Spenserian sonnet. The Italian/Petrarchan sonnet is named for the poet and philosopher Petrarch. The English/Shakespearean sonnet is named for William Shakespeare, who wrote over one hundred sonnets in his lifetime. The Spenserian sonnet is named for Edmund Spenser, a Renaissance poet who wrote an epic poem called The Faerie Queene.
Now it is time to introduce yourself to three important English poets as well as examine the three types of sonnets in greater detail.
John Milton
One of the foremost writers of English history is John Milton, who was born in London in 1608. As a scholar of numerous languages, he excelled throughout his formal education and prepared to enter the clergy. However, he decided instead to devote himself to a period of self-study, during which he read extensively from classical to modern works. He also composed numerous poems and took a lengthy tour of France and Italy, meeting many prominent thinkers and artists of the time. Milton's talent for writing impressed many people, but what made him most famous was his work on political pieces. Milton was a champion of Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War and served as a secretary under the new government. By the time the monarchy was restored, Milton had become completely blind. He was briefly imprisoned and then lived out the rest of his life in relative seclusion. It was during this time that he completed his greatest work, an epic poem called Paradise Lost.
Access and read "When I Consider How My Light Is Spent" by John Milton. This poem was written by Milton in his later life after he had become completely blind. As you read the sonnet, think about what the speaker means when referring to "light."
The Italian Sonnet
The English-language sonnets that are so well loved today had their origin in the sonnets composed by earlier Italians. Although people wrote sonnets before his time, Petrarch did much to popularize the sonnet. In fact, the Italian sonnet is sometimes referred to as the Petrarchan sonnet in his honor. Although John Milton is best known for his use of blank verse and lack of rhyme, he was also a master of the Italian sonnet form. Now that you have learned a little about John Milton's life and read one of his sonnets, take a moment now to examine the form of the Italian sonnet by analyzing Milton's poem "When I Consider How My Light Is Spent."
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William Shakespeare
Four hundred years after his death, William Shakespeare continues to be one of the most widely read and admired authors of the English language. Shakespeare was born in England in 1564. He married at the young age of eighteen but soon began spending most of his time in London to focus on a career in the theater. As an actor and playwright, he was co-owner of a theater company called Lord Chamberlain's Men, which was later changed to The King's Men. In 1599, the Globe theater was built on the bank of the River Thames and was home to many of Shakespeare's performances. Shakespeare's dramas, which encompassed comedies, romances, histories, and tragedies, were very successful and popular in his time. By 1613, Shakespeare retired from the theater and lived the remainder of his life at home in Stratford. He passed away in 1616, leaving behind a legacy of cherished plays and sonnets. Some of his most famous dramas include Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Macbeth.
Access and read "Sonnet 29" by William Shakespeare. This poem is one of 126 sonnets that Shakespeare wrote addressed to a "Fair Youth." Before you read the sonnet, reflect on a time when you felt unhappy but later cheered up. What ended up lifting your mood?
The English Sonnet
Although the plays of William Shakespeare are the most widely performed dramas in the world today, Shakespeare is also well remembered for the numerous sonnets he composed in the English style. Like Petrarch, he was not the first to popularize the form of the sonnet in the world—or even in England—but he was innovative in his form and thematic content. Such a master was of the English sonnet that it is often called the Shakespearean sonnet. Now that you have learned a little about William Shakespeare's life and read one of his sonnets, take a moment now to examine the form of the English sonnet by analyzing Shakespeare's poem "Sonnet 29."
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Edmund Spenser
The son of a clothmaker, Edmund Spenser was born in London around 1552. As a young boy, he studied classical Greek and Latin texts in school and later attended Cambridge. After finishing his studies at Cambridge, he became acquainted with many of England's cultural and intellectual figures of the time. In 1580, he was appointed secretary to the Lord Deputy of Ireland and moved to Dublin. It was during this time that Spenser began composing his allegorical poem The Faerie Queene, which praised Queen Elizabeth I. In 1590, he traveled to London to promote his work and ended up meeting Queen Elizabeth herself, who awarded him with a yearly pension. After his generous pension was reduced on the recommendation of an advisor to the queen, Spenser criticized the member of the court and resorted to moving back to Ireland. There, he finished his work on The Faerie Queene, but political instability in Ireland forced him to return to London in 1598 where he passed away shortly thereafter in early 1599.
Access and read "Sonnet 75" by Edmund Spenser. Unlike the unrequited love often found in Italian and English sonnets, the love in Spenserian sonnets is often celebrated and joyful. After reading the poem, consider who was right about immortality: the speaker or his love?
The Spenserian Sonnet
During Edmund Spenser's early career as a writer, England faltered behind other European countries such as France and Italy that were producing brilliant and innovative works of literature. Spenser decided to change this and pioneered a new form of the sonnet, noted for its powerful concluding couplet and unique rhyme scheme. Paving the way for later English poets such as the great William Shakespeare, Spenser left his poetic legacy in his collection of sonnets and in the name of the sonnet form that was named after him. Now that you have learned a little about Edmund Spenser's life and read one of his sonnets, take a moment now to examine the form of the Spenserian sonnet by analyzing Spenser's poem "Sonnet 75."
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Renaissance Sonnets Review
Now that you have explored the sonnet form during the Renaissance, it is time to review your knowledge and practice what you have learned. In this non-graded activity, read the set of directions associated with each question and provide your answers. Click the player button to get started.