Sonnet
The type of lyric poetry typically known to have fourteen lines is the sonnet. Originating in Italy in the Middle Ages, the traditional sonnet used a particular fourteen-line ‘iambic pentameter’ poetic structure. The poem was divided into two stanzas, typically of 8 lines and 6 lines, with the eighth line acting as a ‘turn’ connecting the first and second stanzas. This structure was used in English by poet Geoffrey Chaucer in one of his book of The Canterbury Tales, and codified by sixteenth-century poet, Sir Thomas Wyatt. The form is most associated with the work of Elizabethan poets, specifically William Shakespeare, who wrote 154 of them.
Themes
Traditionally, sonnets addressed a beloved or expressed a philosophical or spiritual consideration of life on earth. They often centered on themes of love, beauty, and mortality, sometimes in a light and humorous way. They were often written as part of a larger cycle of sonnets. Sonnet themes persisted over the centuries and developed into a style of addressing timeless themes like mortality, beauty, love, immortality, and the power of human sentiment.
Traditional Forms
The traditional iambic pentameter form, which Shakespeare and other early poets used, has remained popular and has endured several significant modifications. The Elizabethan sonnet typically featured 3 quatrains (four line stanzas) and concluded with a closing couplet. The Italian or Petrarchan sonnet was the form used by such writers as Dante and Petrarch himself. This form also uses a quatrain, plus a sestet (six-line stanza). William Wordsworth modified the traditional form to create the Spenserian sonnet, using a quatrain and couplet, plus an eighth line that connects the first and second quatrains.
Contemporary Sonnets
The twenty-first century has seen a flourishing of poetic activity across nations, age groups and genres, with sonnets featuring prominently. As traditional sonnets are reimagined by contemporary authors, contemporary sonnets use a variety of techniques from old forms, such as alliteration, assonance and various rhyme schemes. The syllabic verse, for example, which uses 13 syllables instead of 14, is often tied to a specific rhythm, such as jazz. The continuous and enjambed sonnets, which often have no set rhyme or meter, create a new kind of instantaneous emotion, connecting a historical record with current emotional struggles.
Free Verse
Not all lyric poetry follows a strict metrical form, and some poets have made use of free verse in writing sonnets. Free verse often follows an approximate poem structure, but relies on syllabic and phonetic elements to contribute to the emotional texture of the poem. While these free-verse sonnets use fewer formal elements than their traditional counterparts, they often explore more complex and abstract notions, allowing the authors to speak in a more direct and visceral language.
Experimental Sonnets
Experimental sonnets are often written by more experienced authors, often working at the intersections of traditional and free verse forms. These sonnets contain more complex rhymes and meters than traditional forms, as well as an innovative use of line breaks, imagery and other literary devices. They often combine multiple forms, using elements from both traditional and contemporary sonnets, or from a variety of genres, such as rap and spoken-word poetry.
Form and Meaning
The sonnet form has a rich and varied history, linked to biographical, literary and cultural context. For many poets, the form has been a creative challenge as well as a source of narrative and poetic inspiration. Sonnets can be used to convey an idea, a mood or a feeling effectively and powerfully. Studying the traditional form may provide an understanding of the underlying ideas and the conventions of the medium, while at the same time allowing authors to create variations and new interpretations.
Sonnet as Personal Reflection
The sonnet is often used as a tool for self-reflection, allowing the author to explore their values, emotions and experiences with a poetic voice that can reach many readers. Sonnets are often used in struggles with identity, relationships and anger, even when the poet is not aware of the form. Their brevity means that they can often be read in one sitting, allowing readers to reflect on the poem as a whole and draw conclusions about the author’s feelings or moral quandaries.
Sonnet as Political Commentary
Sonnets can also be used to comment on the political issues of the day. As a form, the sonnet can communicate a strong social message with both language and structure. In the last few decades, sonnets have often been used as a medium for raising awareness of important political issues, such as environmentalism, terrorism and human rights.
Challenges for 21st Century Poets
The twenty-first century has seen a resurgence of interest in lyric poetry and the sonnet form. As poets strive to create original and meaningful works, they can draw upon historical forms, while also responding to current events and values. Many poets now take inspiration from a variety of sources, including ancient poem forms, modern music, and web culture. Sonnet writers must remain conscious of their audience, as millennials and other digital natives often respond to more immediate and accessible poems.
Collaborative Writing
More recently, the traditional sonnet has been re-invented in the form of collaborative sonnets, where two or more poets contribute to a single poem. These sonnets are often composed online in a public forum or by email, but can take on the traditional sonnet form and contain references to classical works and poetic conventions. Through collaboration, poets are able to bring new and unique perspectives to the sonnet form, creating challenging and interesting poetic works that both explore the boundaries of the form, as well as stay true to the form’s original parameters.
Sonnet Salons
As the sonnet form continues to evolve, authors are turning to online and physical communities known as “sonnet salons” to read, share and promote the craft. These salons often hold open readings and discussion circles, which can provide inspiration and inform and hone poetic writing. Sonnet salons are often seen as a way to connect with local poets and build a network of like-minded people interested in the sonnet form.
Sonnet Competitions
Many authors engage in competitive writing, using sonnets to capture a competitive edge. From local events to global contests, poets are judged on the merits of their sonnet, in both traditional and contemporary forms. Peers can evaluate an author on the technical aspects of writing, including meter, word choice and imagery. Many competitions offer titles, prizes and visibility to authors, and are often used to showcase emerging talent.
Modern Sonnets and Social Media
The internet and social media have had a tremendous impact on the sonnet form. Sonnets, which were previously only written by experienced authors, can now be read and enjoyed by the masses. Social media in particular can often be used to disseminate sonnets, either in their traditional form or in a more modern version, thus allowing authors to spread their works quickly and easily.
Using Technology to Poetic Effect
At the same time, the use of technology to create poetry has been gradually increasing. From text-based generators to computer algorithms, writers are using technology to generate sonnets and other poetic works. Digital media has also opened up new possibilities for visual art via animations or video-based works, allowing writers to explore a wider range of themes and techniques.
Developing New Creative Possibilities
In the twenty-first century, the sonnet form has been transformed and redefined. Authors are now using the form to explore a variety of themes and topics, often through a combination of traditional elements and modern techniques. At the same time, technology and the internet have opened up new artistic avenues. As the sonnet form continues to evolve, authors today have the opportunity to redefine the genre, creating richer and more meaningful works.
