ENGL 1080 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: John Donne, Simile, Metaphysical Poets
1 Jun 2016
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Originates in italy introduced to england by sir thomas wyatt. Henry howard, earl of surrey introduces the english sonnet that we commonly associate with shakespeare. 14 lines, divided into two parts: first 8 lines octave, devoted to the speaker addressing a problem, last 6 lines sestet, the speaker finds a resolution to the problem. The octave rhyme scheme abba, abba. The sestet rhyme scheme cde, cde: english/shakespearian sonnet. 3 quatrains (4 lines) ending in a rhyming couplet. Problem addressed in the 3 quatrains (more elaborate than the petrarchan sonnet) The resolution to the problem is given in the rhyming couplet. Subject: a man doesn"t want his lover to grow old. Apostrophe (address to an absent/inanimate being): the poem is addressed to time itself. Aggressive references: lions, tigers, phoenix even these powerful animals cannot withstand the forces of time. Even the phoenix is subject to the forces of time after 500 years of life.
