COURSE DESCRIPTION: Originating in Sicily in the 13th Century, the sonnet (from the Italian sonetto, “little song”) is a beloved form for English-language poets, beginning in the 16th Century with Sir Phillip Sidney. In the 500 years that have followed, the sonnet has been used — and changed — by poets to think through big questions about existence, love, and morality.

Over the 8 weeks of this survey course, we will read through chronological examples of the sonnet to consider shifts in style over time. We will also cover the formal elements of the sonnet (e.g., prosody, rhyme scheme) to provide students with a working basic understanding of these elements.

Each week, students enrolled in the class will be provided with a packet of sonnets to be covered during each session. Students will also be asked to write a sonnet each week in the style of one of the sample poets and will have the opportunity to share it and discuss the experience of writing in that style.