Flower sonnet VI

The sixth sonnet of the River Duddon series is not your typical sonnet.   Instead of having a theme of love or having some kind of shepherd chase after someone that he love, there is a feeling of peace and normalcy.   The atmosphere gives a feeling that the time is around spring.   The sonnet mentions numerous trees that surround the general area.   Small birds being sighted all over the forest and the hum of bees as they pollinate the flowers that envisions peace.    There is also a calm feeling you get when reading the lines, “And caught the fragrance which the sundry flowers, fed by the stream with soft perpetual showers, plenteously yielded to the vagrant breeze”.

            This sonnet is a Petrarchan sonnet because of it’s the rhyme scheme follows an ABBA ABBA CDE CDE scale.   In the octave part of the sonnet, it focuses on the description of the forest, rivers, and the flowers.   It shows true nature at work as it describes the bees pollinating the flowers and the birds making a living within the forest.

            The volta in this sonnet takes place after the first line of the sestet.   The line, “The trembling eye-bright showed her sapphire blue” gives a sense that the plant is dangerous, even though it has been used for generations as a medicine to help cure eye irritation.   The last line of the sonnet, “All kinds seemed favorites of Heaven” shows that everything is there for a reason.   All of things that were created in the forest are there is so serve its purpose in life whether if it is good or bad.   Everything is part of system that works with each other. 

Sonnet 227 Blog Post by Learie Jones

Sonnet 227: The River Duddon VIII

Streams can be considered one of the more peaceful aspects of nature on Earth. They are always pictured as a place where wildlife such as deer and bears come to sip at its remnants or where birds may come to wash off their feathers. Along with this, some streams closer to civilization may contain history; a war may have been along its waters or maybe the stream might have been a boundary between different tribes. In sonnet VIII of The River Duddon, the poet uses a shift in tone and at the volta to display the eternal peace of the stream in contrast to the ignorant and violent men of humanity that have used it.

Before the volta of this poem, the theme of the poem is quite dark and mysterious. The stream is introduced in the first few lines, and the speaker of the poem seems to be curious as to who may have been to this body of water in the past. This curiosity is represented by a multitude of questions asked in the first 8 lines, such as “who first/ In this pellucid current slaked his thirst?” and “what hopes came with him?”. The questions show a gradual change from being referred to the stream to instead being focused on the one using the stream and their life. The speaker’s view of the user of the stream is a dark one, using the phrase “slaked his thirst” and referring to him as an “intruder” to show that this person is not worthy of using its waters. The last question is asked menacingly to the first user of the water, asking, “Was the intruder nursed/ In hideous usages, and rites accursed, / That thinned the living and disturbed the dead?”. This final question before the volta shows that the speaker disapproves of the first user of the stream, saying that they take the peaceful waters of the stream but carry out lives of barbaric and violent deeds, as referred to with, “thinned the living and disturbed the dead”.

After the eighth line, or volta of the poem, the poem changes to one of peacefulness as the speaker attempts to answer his or her own question. The vengefulness of the questions asked towards humanity in the first part of the poem is now met by the change of thoughts to the light and peaceful aspects of the stream itself in the second part. The speaker shows that the stream’s answer to the corruption of the men who have touched its waters is that in fact “no voice replies”, saying that the nature around the stream is “mute”. The stream quietly moves on, doing only what it knows best, “to heal and to restore”, no matter what tainted hands may enter it. While the corruption of humanity surrounds and momentarily uses the stream for its own need, the waters continue to move down the stream, washing away these bad remnants and keeping it peaceful.

William Beckford's Elegaic Sonnet to a Mopstick

On first reading the title of the poem, I thought it would be satirical. The title of the work begins with the lofty and promising words "Elegiac Sonnet.." and comes crashing down to a common household object "..to a Mopstick." The poem however elegantly discusses the mop as a discarded remnant of the magnificent tree it once used to be. In the poem, the author uses this image to discuss his fear of loss or ruin of his love.

The words used to describe the tree the mop was made from are all chosen to be grand and majestic. The author uses "twinkling" and "dancing" to describe the tree. These words almost sound mystical and unattainable now that the mop is just a mop and no longer part of that natural world. The words used to describe the mop on the other hand seem weak and belittling. The mop described as "stripped" and "a poor stick". Once removed from the state it was meant to be in, the mop has little meaning or importance in the world.

The author goes on to parallel the situation of the mop with his own life. There is a volta in the middle of the poem in which the author comes to realize that it is the relevance to his own life that makes him pity the mop. The author states that he would be just as pitiful and lost as the mopstick if ever Philisto broke his vow and left him. After this realization, he is saddened at the possibility of losing everything and becoming separated from the thing that connects him to the world.

The last line "and my sad thoughts, while I behold thee twirled, turn on the twistings of this troublous world" ties the concept back to the initial observation of a mopstick. As the author sees this mop being used as it was never supposed to be used, his thoughts turn to all of the dark possibilities of the world. The author begins to consider all of the things that could turn his life sour. This is unique for a sonnet which usually concern hope or want for love. This sonnet instead has love, but doesn't trust the world to let that love remain.

Wordsworth and his river V

This sonnet is a perfect example of the changes from the Enlightenment (or age of reason) to Romanticism. This poem is one of a series of sonnets about the River Duddon, written in 1820. It displays a love of nature, highlight on the importance of solitude, and a distain for the industrial or man-made.
The imagery used throughout this sonnet feels as if it is overflowing with greenery. This is especially true when he is describing the shade from the heavenly son, ‘the alders have together wound their foliage’ (6-7) to create a bridge-like connection over the water. Wordsworth actually addresses his “Sole listener, Duddon” (line 1), indicating that the river is his inspiration and only care, it is written for nature.
The last 10 lines show his dislike for human creation. At the volta, line 10, he writes of the rude cottage with ruddy children. As if there should not be this destruction of nature. There is a criticism in mention of the careless way these people enjoy summer, but instead he wishes they had better understanding of the great power of nature.
There is certainly an aspect of solitude both with the author and the greatness of nature. On line 4 there is a direct reference of ‘unfruitful solitudes” that are unending. This is in perfect connection to the idea of the lone poet of the romantic era. Wordsworth even notes that nature is lonely , only laying on the service of humanity, and not being truly understood.
Though the enlightenment would have disregarded this poetry, it is a perfect representation of the opposite yet equality powerful Romantic era.

- Devon Abdo

"Flowers"

Flowers, sonnet number VI of The River Duddon series of poems, is an atypical sonnet in that it doesn’t describe the affection displayed by one person to another. This sonnet seems describe the concept of acceptance. While this sonnet doesn’t explicitly describe a relationship between two lovers, it does symbolize the theme of acceptance.

The rhyme scheme of this sonnet is ABBA ABBA CDE CDE, which fits perfectly in the template of an Italian sonnet, or Petrarchan sonnet. In this poem, the octave describes the positive pieces of the forest—the bumblebees perform their “harmless robberies”, or the bees are finding the pollen in the plant and removing its pollen. To the plant, the removal of the pollen does not harm the plant but instead allows it to prosper. Pollination is the reproductive system for plants so the bee is actually helping the plant produce offspring and spread its population. The octave describes the bank of the river as a very pleasurable place. It states that the area does not lack “old remains of hawthorn bowers/where small birds warbled to their paramours.” This means that the area has shaded areas where the birds can mellifluously lure their mates. The forest seems to survive without trouble and assist all of those who live in it.

The volta separates the octave from the sestet and the mood of the sonnet switches slightly. In the sestet, the description of the forest continues. However, the description adjusts from positive to a bit darker—it shows that not all things are made to be helpful. The eye-bright, a plant native to Europe that is known to cause eye irritation, is described as “trembling.” However, in the last line, “All kinds alike seemed favorites of Heaven,” shows acceptance. All these small entities work together to create this forest on the bank of the river and all are necessary to function properly. All the aspects of the river bank, those that help and those that may harm, are accepted as integral members of the system.

Wordsworth is hating on critics, and I like it.

In this poem by Wordsworth, I have seen a beautiful attempt to defend the glory of the sonnet. I have been amazed by the fluidity, and steadfast defense of the sonnet by him. His passion for the sonnet truly shines through and it makes his argument very effective, further the musicality of it is just beautiful and these two aspects contribute to this poem as it scorns the critics.

This poem reminds me of the saying “Hater’s going to hate” Wordsworth goes through all the major poets from Petrarch to Spenser creating a feeling of universal beauty within the sonnet. These allusions also serve to dismiss the haters. By creating a deeply historical nature he makes it seem like these complaints are basically only superficial and with time they will disappear. This direction towards the critics is also important because it is direct. This empowering outcry against a group of people who hate for the sake of hating (critics) is something that adds a cutting nature to this poem.

The other aspect of this poem that proves that sonnets are beautiful and not at all deserving of the contempt that the critics place on them is the musicality. This musicality is expressed in every line either through rhyme or through the mellow sounds that this poem has. There are no hard sounds in “The Sonnet glittered a gay myrtle leaf” it sounds smooth, it sounds perfect. This use of how the poems’ literal sound proves the critics wrong.

Overall Wordsworth is a wordsmith in this poem and attacks critics in a full frontal nature that does not back down, nor apologize. It is a breath of fresh air to see the directness of this poem in a genre where indirectness can arguably be considered king.

Scorn not the Sonnet ~ William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth’s “Scorn not the Sonnet” is an illustration of the history and evolution of the modern-day sonnet. This anthology of sorts compares the sonnet to musical instruments in different cases when speaking of different poets. Wordsworth references the major contributors to the sonnet as if they were producing a musical piece. This use of historical background helps to bring the entirety of the sonnet into realm. By comparing the development of the sonnet to the development of, say, a symphony, “Scorn not the Sonnet” shows the importance and beauty that each sonnet possesses.

Firstly, Wordsworth challenges the “Critic” of the sonnet (perhaps simply a person who does not see the significance of the work) to take a closer look at the development of the sonnet. The poem reads, “Scorn not the Sonnet; Critic, you have frowned, / Mindless of its just honours; with this key.” The second line of the poem suggests that the writing of a sonnet and its very beginning is essentially random and “spur of the moment”; often like the creation of a musical piece. The “key” that is chosen is often random and can be revised later in the creative process.

Wordsworth then begins to reference different poets, the pioneers of the sonnet. First there is Shakespeare, who “unlocked his heart”; illustrating that love is “the melody” or the motivating force behind a sonnet. Next, the poem brings in the sonnet’s ability to act as a coping method; just as “Petrarch’s wound” is healed through the sound of a small lute. Petrarch’s sonnets and his unrequited love, is indeed what this wound is alluding to.

Lastly, Wordsworth brings forth Milton, whose epic poem, Paradise Lost is near the greatest epics of English literature and perhaps of all time. This poetry is illustrated as a trumpet, one of the key-note, essential contributors of a symphony. Wordsworth writes, “Fell round the path of Milton, in his hand / The Thing became a trumpet; whence he blew / Soul-animating strains—alas, too few!” This comparison shows us the sheer capacity and enormity of Milton’s work and how it contributes the key part to the development and completion of the modern day sonnet. "Scorn not the Sonnet" encompasses the history of the sonnet and effectively communicates the complexity and significance of its past. The comparison between the creation of the sonnet and the production of a symphony shows the intricacies and beauty that both arts share, illustrating the connection between the two.

Reflection on The Sea View By Charlotte Smith

The Spenserian sonnet, The Sea View, by Charlotte Smith creates a stark contrast between how the shepherd views the sea as a natural beauty and how he views the sea overtaken by the violent behaviors of men. Smith uses blazon to describe physical features of the sea, but these features were either positive or negative depending on whether you were looking these features before or after the volta. The first 8 lines of this sonnet capture the true beauty of the sea by describing it in an angelic and serene tone. Smith uses descriptive words such as soft, bright, celestial, purple radiance, magnificent, tranquil, joy, and serene to illustrate to the reader the perfection of the natural (undisturbed) state of the sea. We also see this same pattern of peacefulness through Smith’s use of rhyme scheme in the first 8 lines. The pattern of ababbcd creates and even flowing description of the sea and helps to create the harmonious sea view.

The volta occurs at line 9, and from that point Smith completely transforms the adjectives used in her blazon and the overall tone in the following 6 lines. Following the volta, the reader is exposed to a negative blazon of the sea with descriptions such as dark, plague spots, demon, death, war freighted, fierce, red, destructive, dead, dying, pollute, and blood. In comparison to the first 8 lines of the sonnet, these descriptions are the extreme opposite of those presented in that section. In doing this Smith creates a strong sense of anger and resentment toward the men who overtake and disturb the natural beauty of the sea. We feel the impact that these men have on the poor shepherd who enjoys the sea view without the presence of violent men. The rhyme scheme for this section of the sonnet is also very sporadic and irregular. With a rhyme scheme of dcddee the poem does not allow for a smooth read, and often causes the reader to stop and reflect on the line just read.

I feel that Smith use of diction and rhyme scheme accurately portrayed the shepherd’s distress toward the men who have taken over God’s beautiful and peaceful creation and have filled it with their man made violence and hatred. This extreme comparison, broken up at the volta, helps to narrow the reader into the heart felt emotions of being angry of no longer being able to view the sea with such tranquility and peace and leaves the reader also feeling resentment toward the men for overtaking the beauty that the sea offers.

To ____ _____ by Mary Bryan

This is an interesting example of a Shakespearean sonnet that manages to be typically melodramatic, while also affirming life in the face of death. The poem definitely seems to express a woman’s love for her dead lover, and one can’t help but wonder if this poem’s speaker is in fact the poet addressing her feelings over her dead husband. It is difficult to know who the speaker is directly addressing in this poem, which is another thing that makes it somewhat unique. All we know about the addressee is that the speaker calls them “unknown disturber of my rest.” It is as though she has personified her own feelings of despair over the death of her husband. She indicates that perhaps she is simply bemoaning whatever malady it was that took her husband from her when she calls it “[d]estroyer of love thou ne’er canst know.” The speaker runs the gamut of emotions, moving from suicidal to blissful. On the fifth line she seems to be imploring her life to end when she says “life with love–O leave me– spare me now.” On the very next line she has shifted completely away from the negative expressions which, up to that point, had entirely characterized the poem. She makes many references to an unspecified, serendipitous occurrence “when kind some pitying Genii heard [her] vow.” In the depths of her sorrow, she discovered a new motivation to live in the memory or spirit of her deceased love. She exposits the reasons in the couplet, after the volta: “to live for him, and at Love’s sanctioned shrine.” The movement from depression to hopefulness could be considered the volta, but it is at the end of the poem that the speaker moves from hopefulness to a statement about a new reason for life. The first part of the poem is cohesive as an emotional journey, while the end renders her surprising epiphany.

The Veil - Elizabeth Cobbold

This poem is a masterfully written Shakespearean sonnet in which the author sticks to the very traditional structure of this type of poem. However, she has a very unusual topic of the poem. Whereas most sonnets seem to use the first two quatrains in an effort to describe the many beautiful features of their lover in a blazon, Cobbold uses the first two quatrains to describe a concept rather than a person. Cobbold uses her quatrains to describe a metaphorical veil that covers her soul and heart. She has a blazon to describe something ephemeral and intangible with phrases such as "the look devoid of guile" and "tear of rapture springing to my eye." Cobbold wants her audience to see that even though she has used a traditional poem to describe the semi-traditional topic, what she feels is not traditional in any sense by using her blazon to describe something other than the purely physical.

Her metaphors and volta at the couplet further demonstrate the originality and uniqueness of Cobbold's poem. Whereas most sonnets seem to "shout their love from the rooftops" so to speak, Cobbold does the exact opposite, hoping to use the "friendly aid" of the very veil that so ails her. Instead of generally boisterous nature of these poems, Cobbold uses the poem to express a few minor feeling and then lock them away in an attempt to "guard her pride, honor, and fame." This couplet taken into account with the rest of the obscure and hidden nature of the poem seems to go against most other sonnets, especially the Shakespearean. The way in which Cobbold chooses solely to speak of her feelings indirectly and metaphorically further pushes the shy nature found in the couplet and again challenges the traditional poem.

Sappho Discovers her Passion

This sonnet is very defiant of a typical sonnet, as it initially comes of as deep seeded love that can initiate passion just by looks, then it has a gruesome twist where we as readers actually find out that love no longer exist between the author and Phaon. Over the coarse of the sonnet the author vividly describes her love and how it makes her feel, the she takes the reader down a brief tunnel of pain as she reaches the epiphany that love no longer dwells within the barracks of her heart, as her lover, Phaon, has moved on. After reading this sonnet, the blazons were noticeable almost immediately. The "beauteous eyes of Phaon's" are referenced in the very first line of the poem. Just at the sight of his eyes disorients the author instantly. The passion is so strong that her thoughts are all discombobulated and thrown. Sappho's feelings for Phaon are so strong that at the time nothing else in life matters to her, she automatically loses all control, even her body response to the stimuli of this love as she says, "my chilled breast in throbbing tumults rise". This poem extensively uses blazons to convey the passion. I feel like this is great aspect to get the reader involved. Blazons give readers a live sense of what is going on, and they allow the reader to try to imagine the feelings for themselves. It transforms this sonnet from a bland love lost, to a colorful love story that ends in a heart break. Sappho's blazons literally jump off the page because of how well they describe the intensity of love and desire. Following the blazons, is and abrupt volta. This was such a dramatic volta that the author actually says, "Mute". It is here where the author realizes that all those feelings of love are for naught, because her lover is no longer hers. She goes on to say, "my faltering lips betray, That stung by hopeless passion". She realizes that the love is gone and will never be regain, however that does not stop her passionate feelings. This is a complete 360 because in the beginning of the poem she describes being head-over- heels for this guy Phaon, and now she tells how he is gone. The poem ends with the author having slightly slipped into a state of self pity and depression as she goes on to say, "let pity waft my spirit to the blessed".

Sappho Discovers her Passion

In the patriarchal sonnet “Sappho Discovers her Passion”, the sonnet avoids cliché by beginning like a love poem in the beginning then turning into a love lost. By doing so, the speaker admits that she has a passion for her absent lover but also realizes that he has denied her.

The first quartet is a blazon, which signals a love poem, the speaker notices Phaon’s “beauteous eyes” and also recounts how it makes her feel both physically and emotionally. The thought of him makes her erase all other thoughts in her mind, her ability to avoid the sensation withers away, and her “chilled breast in throbbing tumults rise”. This is a typical blazon in which praises the absent lover and describes how the lover makes the speaker feels.

In the next quartet, however, the volta indicates that although she has a clear passion for this lover, all of her efforts to win his love have been neglected. The volta, “Mute, on the ground my lyre neglected lies, signifies that she tried to lure her lover to her by using her music capabilities but in doing so, she could not see the truth. This blindness is also noted in the end-stopped seventh and eighth lines “My down-cast looks, my faltering lips betray, that stung by hopeless passion,-Sappho dies!” Here she realizes that all of her efforts have been for nothing because her lover does not share the same passion that she has.

In the last sestet, the speaker is depressed and is coming to terms with her loss. She is actually very dramatic and often relates the creatures and places in Greek mythology such as “the bank of the Cypress” and “maids” such as nymphs to express where she needs to go and who she needs to help her recover from this tragic realization.

As a whole, this sonnet avoids the typical clichéd “love sonnet” by revealing that the speaker’s passion was not enough for her lover.