I’ve not read many sonnets.
To be honest, having to read sonnets or Shakespeare frustrates me for
one main reason; for the life of me, I can never identify sonnets, especially in
any of Shakespeare’s plays! I know they’re
in there, and they aren’t hiding! I
think reading the section on the “square” form has helped me with this problem –
reflecting on some of the line lengths in Hamlet,
I now can identify a few. No, I do NOT
have a favorite, although I believe Christina Rossetti’s sonnet in the book was
beautifully written, and I might pick a Shakespearean one – if I ever find
one. Foster considers sonnets to be important
because they appear the most often, are recognizable to most readers, and are
easy to spot (apparently) because of their “square” shape. He goes on about the “form” of this type of
poem; since the form is so structured and small, the message(s) have to be
squished in with few, well-intentioned words.
A major plot or story can’t be accomplished through a sonnet because of
its short length, but an important shift of an idea/mood could be well executed
because of its two parts – the octave and six lines, or some variation of this. Foster also says the form itself – the line lengths,
rhyme schemes, sentence structure, iambic pentameter (or something – um -
better), Petrarch or Shakespearean or any other variation – brings its own
meaning to the poem other than what is written.
This makes sense – why would one choose one variation over the other, or
to even write in such a structured, short form over writing an epic? Because every detail when you write with that
much importance on an issue, idea, or feeling, matters.
I haven't read any sonnets that i know of. Maybe i did and didn't notice which proves that i can't really find any if my life depended on it. Which is very frustrating when your grade counts on it or you got a test on this stuff. Reading it any form its still the same to me its like chinese lettering ( no offense to chinese people). For my favorite that should be easy to know. What you have wrote does make a interesting point and i would used that to help me out with finding sonnets ways in poems and plays and many more things.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like lots of people claim to have not read many sonnets. I know this is true, but also strange since it is one of the most common poetic forms and has existed in almost every Literary Period. I think like what much of Foster says, is true for the sonnet too: if you can see the pattern and anticipate how it leads to meaning, you can meet any sonnet and navigate through it.
ReplyDeleteMac
i would have to agree to you to that theory. There is a huge possibility that we call man and woman pass by many sonnets through out our days, but i think in a way we are distracted by life and other things and today's life and style probably made us not remember or even forget. Yes, its strange since it is the most common poetic forms and has existed in almost every Literary Period , but if you look back our english isn't at the high point anymore, making us forgot or not even bother with them simplest sonnet that pops up to every sonnet. Also i agree with you about Foster's saying that if see the pattern and anticipate how it leads to the meaning of the story or poem you can meet the sonnet and navigate it like a pro. I just need same plain old practice and leads to see them and to notice them much better.
ReplyDeleteMaggie, I was having many thoughts similar to yours while reading chapter four in "How to Read Literature like a Professor," in that I've never found identifying sonnets, or any kind of poem for that matter, to be simple. With that being said, it's surely safe to say that I wasn't able to identify any specific kinda of poem thoughout Hamlet. Not that I didn't notice different sentence structures but that I just couldn't call them by name. Having read "How to Read Literature like a Professor" after reading Hamlet, I had to back track through my thought process. I almost wished that I had read the book before reading Hamelt so that i might have taken the play from a new angle and had a better understanding.
ReplyDeleteIn response to both Maggie and Molly,
DeleteI too have difficulties identifying poetry in a work of art such as Hamlet and have problems distinguishing the difference between sonnets and other poetry. I think also the issue is not that we have not read many sonnets, but being able to recognize them although Foster states that they are widely recognized. It is quite funny that we read Hamlet before a book named, "How to Read Literature Like a Professor." It seems only logical to read something that is outlined instructionally before a work of art such as Hamlet. I have found Fosters ideas to be extremely beneficial and am thankful to have it on the 2012 summer reading list.
Maggie, I agree with you on your post. Although I have read sonnets and can recognize most I agree with you. The only reason I can is because I took creative writing where we spent a whole six weeks on sonnets. Reading "How to Read Literature like a Professor" really did help me figure out the sonnet. I am very glad I read it before I started reading Hamlet. I do not think I would have lost much of the plays meaning if I had not but I suppose I will never know. However, the way you describe the sonnet really makes sense. I guess that in this case "practice makes perfect" and I am sure we are going to practice.
ReplyDeleteMaggie, we are on the same boat! I feel like though just from talking about sonnets on this blog and reading the selected chapter in "How to Read Literature like a Professor," I have a better understanding of what they are and possibly even get an idea on how to create them. I hope this year our classes will have a chance to talk more about them (I'm assuming so, it's a prompt on here probably for class discussion later). I have noticed more things in Hamlet (like sonnets thrown in) and ideas like how many groups, ideas, and things today relate to Shakespeare time, which then leads back to religious times. It's amazing how almost everything sparks off one simple idea.
ReplyDeleteLike Lauren, and probably a lot of other people, I hope that this year I can learn more about sonnets and how to write them. The only times I have written sonnets I have received a good grade on it but I still feel a bit uncomfortable writing them. I hope that in class we will have plenty of opportunity to talk about sonnets because I have a feeling we all need some help with them. With Shakespeare I find the more you read the plays the more sonnets you see. Sometimes it can get frustrating because you think "why didn't I see that before," but then you read it again and have the same feeling. I hope this year will help us learn more about the complexity of sonnets.
ReplyDeleteMaggie
ReplyDeleteI, unlike you, was unaware there were sonnets laced throughout Hamlet. I just assumed, if anything, the “sonnets” were in fact soliloquies. Come to think of it, one of my lines from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a sonnet! Thank you for also pointing out how, with sonnets, everything is meaningful due to the sonnet’s size. That’s something I missed picking up on when I read this chapter. Although, one thing I don’t see is how the variation of a sonnet can greatly affect the impact a sonnet can have. I thought the variations pertained to what words were used when writing a sonnet, not their impact on a reader. Then again, I guess word choice does matter a good deal when reading a text.
Dylan