Lesson 06/10/11

During the previous lesson we analyzed a Petrarch's sonnet: it is composed of an octave and a sestet.

The structure of the English sonnet underwent an evolution developed by the different sonneteers: Wyatt mainly translated Petrarch's sonnets while Henry Howard Earl of Surrey transformed the structure 8+6 into the one three quatrains + a couplet. All this was due to the different nature of the English language and Italian.

The sonnet is a lyrical form of poetry and generally addresses a lady mainly unreachable, balanced and pure. Shakespeare on his side in his collection of sonnets also addressed his sonnets to a Fair Youth and to a dark lady who didn't show the features of courteous love poetry at all. His invention was to create a parody of the conventions of love poetry, thus showing all his great ability and skill in using the language for new purposes.

"Passa la nave mia colma d'oblio"

The words "Nave, remo ecc." are linked to other words that are personificated and linked to the human being ("sospir, lagrimar, speranze, desio ecc."). The poet organizes the text with an analogy between the sea and life. The word use underlines a form of suffering, the negative mood of the poet.

The poet relies on the use of the possessive adjectives.

Even the references to weather conditions make it clear that sailing is not a simple progress but it is made difficult by the winter season, that is when the conditions of climate on characterized by difficulties. In addiction the reference to "Scilla e Cariddi", two monsters, highlights the condition of fear the poet is to face. The insisted use of the possessive adjectives in key position put the emotional state of the speaking voice into the forefront.