Essay on The Sonnet Genre Combining with Figurative Language

The Sonnet Genre Combining with Figurative Language 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†¦show more content†¦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. 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 speaker should compare this person with summer. The speaker then answers by saying she is ‘more lovely and more temperate’ this combines with the meaning created by the first quatrain immediately giving the reader an idea that the speaker feels his belovedShow MoreRelatedHumanities11870 Words   |  48 Pagespossible vehicles could be canvas or paper. Art is very similar to spoken/ written language. Like art, language is a vehicle for the transmission of ideas. Each genre of art has its own rules and traditions, just like language has grammar and vocabulary. A baby is born with a potential to learn language, but he is not able to communicate in a particular language until he learns to use it. So the language of art needs to be learned too. The definition of beautiful is a fluid conceptRead MoreStylistic Analysis10009 Words   |  41 PagesWiddowson means â€Å"the study of literary discourse from a linguistic orientation, i.e. stylistics is an area of mediation between the two disciplines, the two subjects: language and literature† [18, p.43]. In R. de Beaugrande’s words, â€Å"stylistics applies linguistics to literature† [2, p.18]. So, the object of stylistic analysis is language represented in literary texts. Stylistic analysis is a part of literary studies, of any adequate linguistic description. It is practiced as a means of understanding