Ever since the first publication of Shakespeare’s Sonnets in Thomas Thorpe’s, very likely
unauthorized, Quarto-edition in 1609, these poetic masterpieces have interested and
captivated readers and critics alike for the following centuries.
Shakespeare’s exceptional abilities as a playwright as well as a poet have always drawn the
attention of literary criticism towards his works and also to his sonnets. In the past, critics
have often tried to answer all sorts of questions concerning the sonnets. Among the questions
dealt with, like the identity of the persons mentioned in the poems, the correct order and
structure of the sonnet cycle and many others, critics also tried to answer in which ways
Shakespeare used and incorporated already existing poetic conventions and in how far he
wrote against, contrasted and overcame common literary traditions by producing, according to
Pequigney’s praise, “the greatest of all love-sonnet sequences”.
The common literary tradition for writing love poetry that not only English but also
continental poets followed in the sixteenth century was that of Petrarchism.
Already after Francesco Petrarca, or Petrarch, had introduced this way of writing love poetry,
the fashion of imitating or adopting and sometimes contrasting the Petrarchan way of writing
poetry spread from Italy to France, Spain, the Netherlands and also to England4, where Wyatt
and Surrey introduced the sonnet form and the thematic aspects which characterize
Petrarchism5. Although Petrarchism, with its many followers who, despite striking
similarities, often exhibit different ways of adopting the model set by Petrarch, seems not too
easy to define6, this paper aims to show how this prominent love poetry tradition was adopted
and adapted by Shakespeare for his Sonnets.
To achieve this goal it seems essential to try to define what the Petrarchan way of writing love
poetry is and why it became a predominant fashion in England before and during the time
Shakespeare wrote his sonnets. This is to be the purpose of the following chapter.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Petrarchism and the Petrarchan Tradition in England
- 3. Formal aspects of Shakespeare's Sonnets and the Petrarchan tradition
- 4. Traditional and unconventional thematic aspects and Shakespeare's Sonnets
- 5. The Petrarchan language of love and its use in the Sonnets
- 6. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to demonstrate how Shakespeare adopted and adapted the prominent Petrarchan love poetry tradition in his sonnets. It seeks to define Petrarchism and its prevalence in England during Shakespeare's time. The paper will analyze Shakespeare's use of Petrarchan conventions in terms of form and theme, and will examine the poetic language employed.
- The definition and characteristics of Petrarchism.
- The introduction and assimilation of Petrarchism into English Renaissance culture.
- Shakespeare's use of Petrarchan conventions in his sonnets (formal and thematic aspects).
- Analysis of the poetic language used in Shakespeare's sonnets in relation to the Petrarchan tradition.
- Shakespeare's relationship to Petrarchan conventions: adaptation, contrast, and innovation.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces Shakespeare's sonnets and their enduring appeal to readers and critics. It highlights the various questions surrounding the sonnets, including authorship, structure, and the poet's use and adaptation of existing poetic conventions, particularly Petrarchism. The chapter emphasizes the importance of understanding Petrarchism to analyze Shakespeare's work and sets the stage for the subsequent exploration of this tradition. The introduction underscores the significant scholarly attention given to Shakespeare's sonnets and the difficulty in finding new perspectives.
2. Petrarchism and the Petrarchan Tradition in England: This chapter tackles the complexities of defining Petrarchism as a literary movement. It notes the difficulties in defining the tradition because of the myriad variations among Petrarch's followers, who each adapted and altered the model. The chapter then discusses the fundamental characteristics of Petrarchism, focusing on Petrarca's influence through his *Il Canzoniere*. It explores the central conflict of unrequited love for a virtuous and beautiful woman, which forms the basis of many Petrarchan sonnets and its expression through specific rhetorical devices like oxymoron and hyperbole. The chapter explains how Petrarchism was introduced to England and assimilated into its Renaissance culture.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Shakespeare's Sonnets, Petrarchism, Petrarchan Tradition, English Renaissance Poetry, Love Poetry, Sonnet Form, Unrequited Love, Poetic Conventions, Rhetorical Figures, Oxymoron, Hyperbole, Antithesis.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Shakespeare's Sonnets and the Petrarchan Tradition
What is the main topic of this academic paper?
This paper examines Shakespeare's adoption and adaptation of the Petrarchan love poetry tradition in his sonnets. It analyzes how Shakespeare employed Petrarchan conventions in terms of form and theme, and investigates the specific poetic language used.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the definition and characteristics of Petrarchism, its introduction and assimilation into English Renaissance culture, Shakespeare's use of Petrarchan conventions (formal and thematic aspects), analysis of the poetic language used in Shakespeare's sonnets in relation to the Petrarchan tradition, and Shakespeare's relationship to Petrarchan conventions: adaptation, contrast, and innovation.
What is Petrarchism, and how is it relevant to Shakespeare's sonnets?
Petrarchism refers to a literary movement heavily influenced by the Italian poet Petrarch and his *Il Canzoniere*. It is characterized by a specific style of love poetry often featuring unrequited love for a virtuous and beautiful woman, expressed through rhetorical devices like oxymoron and hyperbole. The paper explores how Shakespeare utilized and adapted these Petrarchan conventions in his own work.
How does the paper define and characterize Petrarchism?
The paper acknowledges the difficulty in precisely defining Petrarchism due to the variations among Petrarch's followers. However, it focuses on core characteristics such as the central theme of unrequited love, specific rhetorical devices employed, and the overall stylistic influence of Petrarch's work.
What is the scope of the paper's analysis of Shakespeare's sonnets?
The analysis covers both formal aspects (sonnet form, structure) and thematic aspects (love, unrequited love, etc.) of Shakespeare's sonnets. It examines how these aspects relate to and deviate from established Petrarchan conventions.
What are the key chapters and their respective focuses?
The paper is structured into six chapters: an introduction setting the context and outlining the paper's goals; a chapter defining Petrarchism and its presence in England; a chapter focusing on the formal aspects of Shakespeare's sonnets in relation to Petrarchan tradition; a chapter on the thematic aspects; a chapter dedicated to the poetic language; and a concluding chapter summarizing the findings.
What are some of the key words associated with this paper?
Key words include: Shakespeare's Sonnets, Petrarchism, Petrarchan Tradition, English Renaissance Poetry, Love Poetry, Sonnet Form, Unrequited Love, Poetic Conventions, Rhetorical Figures, Oxymoron, Hyperbole, Antithesis.
What is the overall objective of this academic paper?
The paper aims to demonstrate how Shakespeare utilized and adapted the Petrarchan tradition in his sonnets, providing a nuanced understanding of his relationship with this significant literary influence.
- Quote paper
- Stefan Ruhnke (Author), 2007, Shakespeare's sonnets and the Petrarchan tradition, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/83552
