1. The Sonnet
Write a note on Sonnet and explain its types.
Ans: Origin-It is of Italian origin. It is particularly
associated with the great Italian poet “Petrarch.” Originally
it was a short poem that was sung to the accompaniment of
music. The word sonnet is derived from the Italian word
sonetto. It means a little sound.
Italian Sonnet: Italian Sonnet is also known as Petrarchan
Sonnet. It is also called as classical Sonnet. It is a short
poem of 14 lines. It expresses a single thought or emotion. It
is composed of two parts-The Octave and the sestet. The
Octave is a stanza of 8 lines and the sestet is the stanza of six
lines. The rhyming scheme of Octave is abba abba. The
rhyming scheme of the sestet is cde cde.
The Octave may be divided into two stanzas of four lines
each. The sestet may be divided into two stanzas of three
lines each. At the end of Octave, there is a pause it is called a
caesura.
English Sonnet: The Sonnet was introduced into England in
the first half of the 16th century. It was introduced by Sir
Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard. Henry Howard wrote his
sonnets into three quatrains followed by a concluding
couplet. The rhyming scheme of English Sonnet is abab,
cdcd,efef, gg. Shakespeare was the master of English
Sonnet
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; a
2. Coral is far more red than her lips' red; b
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; a
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. b
I have seen roses damasked, red and white, c
But no such roses see I in her cheeks; d
And in some perfumes is there more delight c
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. d
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know e
That music hath a far more pleasing sound; f
I grant I never saw a goddess go; e
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.f
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare g
As any she belied with false compare. g
