Love, lost love, and the admiration of a fair-haired beauty are a few of the more common themes in early sonnets. Over the centuries, however, sonnet themes have covered a wide and imaginative array of topics. Example: is in all the water, earth, and air, / And love possesses every living “Love thing.” —from “Spring” by Petrarch Literary Devices As in other forms of lyric poems, literary devices appear in sonnets through the centuries. The following are a few key literary devices. Conceits Many sonnets include A conceit is a startling and often Petrarchan conceits. elaborate comparison between two apparently different things. Often, this extended metaphor forms the controlling idea of an entire sonnet. Example: in her key to her heavenly “For her who carried little hand/ my heart’s sojourn . . .” —from “Spring” by Petrarch Sonnet Sequences In Elizabethan England, poets wrote sonnet sequences, or series of sonnets that allow the poet to trace the development of a relationship or examine different aspects of a single theme. Petrarch wrote a series of sonnets to a lifelong love named Laura. sonnets are the most famous sonnet sequences in the English Shakespeare’s 154 language. Strategies for Reading Sonnets Use these strategies as you read sonnets. Sonnets typically record the intensely personal feelings Focus on the Speaker and thoughts of the speaker. As you read a sonnet, stay alert to clues to the and perspective. speaker’s identity, personality, Respond to Imagery and Figurative Language Sonnets are a highly compressed form in which sensory images and figurative language play a major
Love, lost love, and the admiration of a fair-haired beauty are a few of the more common themes in early sonnets. Over the centuries, however, sonnet themes have covered a wide and imaginative array of topics. Example: “Love is in all the water, earth, and air, / And love possesses every living thing.” —from “Spring” by Petrarch Literary Devices As in other forms of lyric poems, literary devices appear in sonnets through the centuries. The following are a few key literary devices. Conceits Many sonnets include Petrarchan conceits. A conceit is a startling and often elaborate comparison between two apparently different things. Often, this extended metaphor forms the controlling idea of an entire sonnet. Example: “For her who carried in her little hand/ my heart’s key to her heavenly sojourn . . .” —from “Spring” by Petrarch Sonnet Sequences In Elizabethan England, poets wrote sonnet sequences, or series of sonnets that allow the poet to trace the development of a relationship or examine different aspects of a single theme. Petrarch wrote a series of sonnets to a lifelong love named Laura. Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets are the most famous sonnet sequences in the English language. Strategies for Reading Sonnets Use these strategies as you read sonnets. Focus on the Speaker Sonnets typically record the intensely personal feelings and thoughts of the speaker. As you read a sonnet, stay alert to clues to the speaker’s identity, personality, and perspective. Respond to Imagery and Figurative Language Sonnets are a highly compressed form in which sensory images and figurative language play a major