A sonnet is a poem with 14 lines and a special pattern of rhyme and rhythm. It is often used to explore love, time, or deep personal feelings.
From Italian *sonetto* meaning “little song,” from *suono* “sound,” from Latin *sonus* “sound.” It began as a short, song-like poem in medieval Italy.
Even though we see sonnets as serious literature, their name literally means “little song.” Shakespeare’s famous sonnets are, in origin, just carefully structured little sound-pieces.
Traditional sonnet sequences often encoded gendered and heteronormative courtship, with male speakers addressing idealized female beloveds, while women’s sonnets were less preserved or studied. Some famous sonnets also include same-sex desire that was downplayed in later commentary.
When discussing sonnets, note the variety of gender and desire configurations, and include women and queer poets in examples.
Highlight women sonneteers and queer poets whose work expanded or subverted traditional sonnet conventions.
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