Sonnets Flashcards
What is the form of the Petrarchan sonnet ?
A B B A A B B A
C D E C D E
Octave - volta-sestet
How does Christina Rossetti describe the woman of the sonnet tradition?
as “donna innominate” (nameless ladies) and criticized the tradition for hiding womens tender feelings under male literary flurish
What have these sequences celebration of a lady been criticised for?
their implied silencing of a woman into a muse position in which she inspires but does not speak e.g sonnet 71
What collection does Sir Philip Sidney’s sonnet 1 come from
Astrophil and Stella which in includes 108 sonnets and 11 songs -first in a long line of Elizabethan sonnet cycle
Where does the name for Astrophil and Stella come from?
…….Astro- (the first two syllables of Astrophel) derives from the Greek word for star, astron; -phel (the last syllable of Astrophel) is a loose transliteration of part of the Greek word philos (love or loving) or philein (to love). Thus, Astrophel means star-lover or loving a star. Stella derives from the Latin word stella, meaning star. The title is apt, for the sonnets center on a man who loves a shining beauty. She is the star that illuminates his life.
What is the heritage of the sonnet in the west?
the sonnet has a long and illustrous heritage in the west
What is the story behind Adtrophil and Stella?
tracks the development of a love affair.The protaganist Astrophil falls in love with a beatuiful woman Stella who intially does not want him but tries to be kind to him.She evtnually marries another man.tella eventually begins to return Astrophel’s affection, but she never is overcome by her passion for him, something which Astrophel is unable to avoid doing. Near the end of the sonnet sequence, Astrophel attempts to coerce her into making love with him despite her marriage vows. He even steals a kiss from her while she is sleeping. Stella realizes that, even though she loves Astrophel, the affair cannot continue if Astrophel needs his passion to be consummated. As a result, Stella ends the relationship.
Key points about sonnet 1
introduces the poet
noted for use of Petrachan conceit but appears to be a lack of this-conventional for hopeless love.
expresses his love for Stella -makes clear that Sidney is conflicted in his role as a Zealous lover and self critical poet
emotional climax in the last few lines
What is a summary of sonnet 1
Astrophel explains why he is writing the sonnets. When he began his task, he says, he wished to express in verse his love for Stella and the pain of separation from her. Reading his poetry might help her to know how he felt. This knowledge could win him her pity and then her love. But, he says, he found it difficult to find the right words to describe his anguish. To remedy this problem, he studied the poetic art and the works of other poets. Still the words came only haltingly. Finally, he decided to write straight from his heart—and the words began to flow
example of metaphor in sonnet 1
my sun-burn’d brain (Sonnet 1, line 8)
Comparison of Stella (whose name is Latin for star) to the sun
Comparison of Astrophel’s brain to sun-burned skin
Alliteration in sonnet 1
pleasure of my pain (Sonnet 1, line 2)
I sought fit words to paint the blackest face of woe (Sonnet 1, line 5)
Some fresh and fruitful showers upon my sun-burn’d brain (Sonnet 1, line 8)
What did William Preston say about the sonnet?
The sonnet will be ever cultivated by those who write on tender and pathetic subjects
How is Gasgones poem simlar to that of sidney
hopless love and suffering from it
to who is Gasgoines sonnet written to?
writtten directly to admier “you/your” about how he can not look her in the face
What is the plot behind for that he looked not upon her
George Gascoigne’s “For that he looked not upon her” delineates his complex attitude about not being able to look directly to his lover’s face. He believes avoiding any sort of contact with her would
cause the desire for her to halt and allow him to live his life with ease. Through the structure, diction, and imagery, Gascoigne attempts to explain to the readers about his complicated emotional situation in which he does not know what to do next
