Question

4. Объясните особенности английского сонета на примере одного из сонетов Шекспира. (Работа в паре.) ​

Answer 1

Примечательно, что в сонетах Шекспира созданы образы близких автору людей – друга, согласно некоторым гипотезам, граф Саутгемптон является «светловолосым юношей», которому Glossary Link автор посвятил ряд сонетов, а также Смуглой (Темной) Леди (127—152) – женщине, чей облик противоречит шаблонным канонам красоты: «Ее глаза на звезды не похожи,/ Нельзя уста кораллами назвать,/ Не белоснежна плеч открытых кожа,/ И черной проволокой вьется прядь...» (сонет 130). 26 сонетов адресованы возлюбленной (Смуглой (Темной) Леди), любовь к которой приносит герою и радость, и страдания: «Любовь слепа и нас лишает глаз./ Не вижу я того, что вижу ясно./Я видел красоту, но каждый раз/ Понять не мог, что дурно, что прекрасно..» (сонет 137) С темами любви и дружбы связан образ Времени, смены поколений, неотвратимости старости. Время выступает как нечто одушевленное - могущественная сила, способная как к разрушению, так и созиданию, и становится символом деятельности людей

Answer 2

English Sonnet and its Features

The English sonnet, also known as the Shakespearean sonnet, is a poetic form that consists of 14 lines. It is characterized by a specific rhyme scheme and a distinct structure. One of the most famous examples of an English sonnet is Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare.

Sonnet 18 begins with the famous line, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" and explores the theme of the speaker's beloved being more beautiful and eternal than the fleeting beauty of nature. Let's examine some of the key features of the English sonnet using Sonnet 18 as an example.

1. Rhyme Scheme: The English sonnet follows a specific rhyme scheme. In Sonnet 18, the rhyme scheme is ABABCDCDEFEFGG. This means that the first and third lines of each quatrain (a group of four lines) rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines. The final two lines, called the couplet, rhyme with each other.

2. Structure: The English sonnet is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. Each quatrain presents a different idea or aspect of the main theme, while the couplet often provides a conclusion or a twist. In Sonnet 18, the first quatrain introduces the comparison of the beloved to a summer's day, the second quatrain explores the limitations of nature's beauty, and the third quatrain emphasizes the immortality of the beloved's beauty. The couplet concludes the sonnet by asserting that the beloved's beauty will live on forever through the power of poetry.

3. Iambic Pentameter: The English sonnet is typically written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line consists of five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables. This rhythmic pattern gives the sonnet a musical quality and helps to create a sense of flow and harmony. Sonnet 18 follows this pattern, with each line containing ten syllables.

4. Volta: The English sonnet often contains a volta, or a "turn," which occurs between the third quatrain and the couplet. The volta marks a shift in tone, perspective, or argument. In Sonnet 18, the volta occurs in the ninth line, where the speaker shifts from describing the beloved's beauty to emphasizing its eternal nature.

5. Theme and Imagery: English sonnets often explore themes of love, beauty, time, and mortality. Sonnet 18, for example, explores the theme of the immortality of art and poetry in preserving the beauty of the beloved. It uses vivid imagery, such as comparing the beloved to a summer's day and describing the fleeting nature of nature's beauty, to convey its message.

In conclusion, the English sonnet, exemplified by Sonnet 18, is a poetic form with a specific rhyme scheme, structure, and rhythmic pattern. It often explores themes of love, beauty, and mortality, and uses vivid imagery to convey its message. The sonnet form allows poets to express complex ideas and emotions within a concise and structured framework.