REVISION OF SONNET (a lyrical form of poetry)

Petrarch's sonnet model consisted on an octave and a sestet. The model was transformed when entered the British scene to adapt to the English language and British rhythm. The progressive transformation was due to:

• 1) Sir Thomas Wyatt who mainly translated Italian sonnets from Italian into English
• 2) Henry Howard Earl of Surrey who first reorganized the structure of Petrarch's model into the typical structure of the Elizabethan sonnet, consisting of three quatrains and a couplet.

Surrey's contribution to the sonnet is both thematical and structural.

In a few words he tailored to the needs of English language.

But the most creative and innovative sonneteer was William Shakespeare. He was able to reshape the typical conventions of the sonnet (courtly love poetry) to create something new.

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 to a fair youth and to a Dark Lady who didn't show the features of courteous love poetry at all. His intention 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.