The renaissance is considered the golden age of poetry because of the flourishing of songs and sonnets.

The
sonnet came from Italy and its invention is attributed to Jacopo da Lentini. The form reached its greatest
expression with the Italian poet petrarch, whose canzoniere became the model for all the european renaissance
poets.
A sonnet is a fourteen line poem in iambic pentameter with a fixed rhyme scheme. The Italian or petrarchan sonnet
consists of an octave usually rhyming ABBA ABBA, and a sestet, which May rhyme CDE CDE or CDC DCD. The
octave generally presents an issue or a situation, while the sestet contains the solution of the problem or personal
reflections.
The english or Shakespearean sonnet is divided into three quatrains and a couplet, and it rhymes ABAB CDCD
EFEF GG. The poet can use the trains to present a theme or three different arguments and draw a conclusion in
the final couplet.
Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of surrey, introduced the petrarchan sonnet into England.
Shakespeare adopt the three independent quatrains followed by a couplet that sums up the thought with
epigrammatic force.
Elizabethan sonneteers showed their ability in the use of conceits. A conceit is an elaborate extended metaphor
that characterises a whole stanza or poem.
During the last decadence of Elizabeth’s Reign many poets started writing sonnets.
The traditional team of the sonnet is love and desire for a lady who cannot return the poet’s love.

Poetry in the 17th century was not characterized by homogeneity of expression. The term metaphysical means
concerned with the fondamental problems of the nature of the universe, and man’s function or place in life. The
metaphysical poets wrote during the first three quarters after 17 Century and their main representative was John
Donne. The metaphysical poets reflected the difficult transition from the renaissance to the modern age. The poet
was expected to be a man of wit, showing not only is sensitivity, but also is knowledge and cleverness.
The clearest distinguishing feature of metaphysical poetry is the conceit, an usual and intellectual kind of
metaphor. Paradox and epigrammatic conciseness are another strength of metaphysical Poetry. Donne uses
words and rhythms which common people were using in their speech around him; most of this poems are dramatic
monologues. Most poems begin in medias res. The diction of the metaphysical poets was rich and varied.
Latinisms and words of Anglo-Saxon origin were both used.

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 1564, possibly on 23 April, Saint George’s day, the
Patron Saint of England. His Father was a yeoman, a successful tradesman, until he met with financial difficulties.
William was the eldest son and attended the local Grammar School, where he acquired a good Knowledge of the
english language and of classical authors. He Married Anne Hathaway when he was only 18 and she was 26.
They had three Children. In 1584 he left stratford and went to London.
He was received into one of the acting companies, at first in a very minor role, but his wit soon distinguished him, if
not is a great actor, as an excellent play write.
In 1593 the London theatres were closed because of the Plague, and Shakespeare needed the support of a
private Patron. He received this support from a young man, the Earl of Southampton. When the theatres
reopened, Shakespeare became a shareholder and the main playwright of the most successful company of actors
in London, the chamberlain’s men.
In 1599 his company build The Globe theatre, where most of his plays were performed. Between 1590 and 1596
he wrote historical Drama. At the same time as the history place, he put ten comedies on the stage.
The Great tragedies were written between 1595 and 1605.
The latter part of his life was spent in retirement at Stratford. He died in 1616 and was buried in the local
Church. Seven years after his death some of his friends and fellow actor published an edition of 36 of the place in
one volume, the famous first folio.

Shakespeare's sonnets were published in 1609, although they were probably written in the 1590s. The collection
includes 154 sonnets in decasyllables.
Shakespeare did not use the petrarchan form, an octave and a sestet. He employed three quatrains and a final
couplet. The development of the argument in many of his sonnets follows the two-poem structure of the petrarchan
form, since there is a turning point in thought in the ninth line. Sometimes the turning point appears at the
beginning of the couplet.
The sonnets have no title and can be divided into two sections. The first is addressed to a fair youth, the earl of
Southampton, and is organised as follows:
- sonnets 1 to 18 -> theme of increase. The poet encourages the young man to marry and preserve his virtues and
beauty through his children.
- sonnets 19 to 126 -> the poet’s warnings about the destructive power of time and moral weakness.
The second section is addressed to a a dark lady or black woman. She is physically unattractive, but the poet finds
her irresistibly desirable.
In Shakespeare’s sonnets there is also a reversal of the traditional themes of love sonnets. The traditional love
poems praising women’s worth and beauty are addressed to a young man, while those devoted to a woman are
negative and non-conventional.
The style of Shakespeare’s sonnets is characterised by rich and vivid descriptive language. The absence of
classical references gives the impression that Shakespeare’s speech is immediate. His sonnets often have a
dramatic quality through the abrupt beginning. The use of question make the style conversational.