Iambic pentameter

important it is for him that his father continues to ‘rage against’ death. The rhyme scheme is traditional, and each stanza features two quatrains of rhymed iambic pentameter with several spondaic substitutions. Similarly, ‘War Photographer’ also has a strict form, structure and rhyme scheme; abbcdd. The stanzas are conventional (rhymed iambic lines) and each one ends with a couplet, as if to conclude an argument. The constricted rhyme scheme juxtaposes the theme of the poem; suffering is an…

The poem by Christina Rosseti entitled Remember is about a request made upon a loved one’s death. This poem is a sonnet, which is written in iambic pentameter in the pattern of ABBA ABBA CDDECE. Remember is written from a female’s point of view, but can also be adapted to the male perspective. The speaker’s point of view starts out being fearful, and then changes in to a tone of acceptance. This essay attempts to address the points brought forth by the speaker, as well as to explore the themes…

Elizabeth Barrett Browning is one of the most well-known and admired poets of her period. Some of her well-known works include Sonnets from the Portuguese, The Runaway Slave at Pilgrim's Point, A Musical Instrument, and many more. The Sonnet from the Portuguese is an example of an Italian Sonnet, also known as the Petrarchan sonnet. An Italian Sonnet is a sonnet that includes an octave, eight lines, usually following the rhyming scheme abbaabba. Next, the Italian sonnet transitions into a sextet…

1. Sonnet 18 Perhaps one of Shakespeare’s most famous sonnets, Sonnet 18 presents an idea of permanence, or rather, stability. The speaker begins by asking whether he should or will compare "thee" to a summer day. The speaker says that this “thee” is more lovely and more even-tempered, by listing the cons of summer: winds shake the buds that emerged in Spring, summer ends too quickly, and the sun can get too hot or be obscured by clouds. The speaker goes on to say that everything beautiful…

centuries, present in all cultures. There is a grand variety of styles that poetry can be represented through. There are some types of poetry where one follows rigid guidelines like sonnets, where one follows a specific rhyme scheme and an iambic pentameter, or a haiku, which has three lines and the first and last line have five syllables while the second line has seven. Additionally, some poets follow no requirements, and write as they please, like free verse poetry. However, poetry…

“Stand still, and I will read to thee, A lecture, love, in love’s philosophy.” - John Donne, Lecture upon the Shadow For the exceptionally intricate John Donne (1572-1631), love played a crucial role in his life, and ultimately became the basis of his poetry in all different aspects and forms. In essence, life had become love for him: the love for women, his wife and God. Either physical, emotional or religious, Donne’s poetry includes the omnipresence of romance, passion and worship…

love and beauty.” (Applebee, Arthur and et al). He even has a form of sonnet named after him-- it’s the form he used himself, although he was not the inventor. It contained three quatrains, a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg, was written in iambic pentameter, and ended with a final rhyming couplet. For example: “For thy sweet love rememb’red such wealth brings,/That then I scorn to change my state with kings.” (Applebee, Arthur and et al). This style is called a Shakespearean sonnet (Glossary…

Shakespeare’s successful career continued to grow rapidly as his 154 sonnets were published. As more people read deeper into the sonnets there have been multiple theories on who Shakespeare was writing about specifically in the sonnets. For example, with the first sonnet up to sonnet 126 the poet introduces the “fair youth” which the reader can then infer that the poet might be talking about a male. However, the dark lady is introduced in sonnet 127, and then brought up again in sonnet 128.…

A Swinger of Birches Hardened by the daily toils and responsibilities, the soft innocence of youth is easily forgotten with age. Walking through the woods in solitude, a man lets his busy mind wander for a moment. With the sight of trees swaying in the wind, his mind understands that the heavy ice and snow is what bends the thin trees. But his heart wonders if it was a boy’s doing – climbing to the top of the trees just to bend them enough so he can let go and fall safely to the ground – that…

Throughout William Shakespeare’s sonnets, there are many highs and lows in his love life. Shakespeare encounters jealousy, heartbreak, utter bliss, and everything in between. All of the first 126 sonnets are addressed to a man. This man is Shakespeare’s rival poet, but also his younger, extremely handsome lover. However, this lover is not faithful and gives Shakespeare as much grief as he does pleasure. The poem I chose to analyze is Sonnet 71. The organization of the sonnet and the meaning…