The Power of Love in Sonnets by Petrarch Surrey and Wyatt
The Power of Love in Sonnets by Petrarch, Surrey and Wyatt
Francesco Petrarch, Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, the Earl of Surrey were three of the greatest poets in history. They were truly visionaries in their work and with their origination of the sonnet, they crafted poems of love in all its incredible forms. With these poets, we are able to see how the sonnet evolved into the form popularized by Shakespeare and even how it still influences the modern poetry of today. Petrarch, known as the "Father of Humanism," first wrote the Italian sonnet during the 14th century. Wyatt and Surrey, who lived and were close friends during the tumultuous reign of Henry VIII in England, composed respective translations of some of Petrarch 's most famous works. In their writings, though their words are quite similar to those of Petrarch, it is clear they have their individual interpretations of the texts and the theme of love affects them in distinct ways. In Petrarch 's sonnets, as well as Surrey 's translations, the love they feel consumes them, leaving them powerless over their own lives; yet as for Wyatt, he makes a conscious choice to resist love so that as the poet, he controls his own fate. Petrarch 's "Rima 140," is a sonnet which tells the story of love who takes power over the poet in the figure of a knight. Love takes the poet captive in both mind and heart, however, when Love is refused by the object of his affection he flees and abandons the poet. In his description of Love 's conquest over him, Petrarch 's use of metaphors presents images of a soldier 's triumph on the battlefield as the poet is completely is helpless but to blush so that all who see him will know he is under Love 's command: "Love...sometimes comes forth all in armor into my forehead, there camps, and there sets up his banner." When he introduces the object of Love 's affection in the next stanza, "She who teaches us to love and to be patient," it is almost as if he is referring
Francesco Petrarch, Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, the Earl of Surrey were three of the greatest poets in history. They were truly visionaries in their work and with their origination of the sonnet, they crafted poems of love in all its incredible forms. With these poets, we are able to see how the sonnet evolved into the form popularized by Shakespeare and even how it still influences the modern poetry of today. Petrarch, known as the "Father of Humanism," first wrote the Italian sonnet during the 14th century. Wyatt and Surrey, who lived and were close friends during the tumultuous reign of Henry VIII in England, composed respective translations of some of Petrarch 's most famous works. In their writings, though their words are quite similar to those of Petrarch, it is clear they have their individual interpretations of the texts and the theme of love affects them in distinct ways. In Petrarch 's sonnets, as well as Surrey 's translations, the love they feel consumes them, leaving them powerless over their own lives; yet as for Wyatt, he makes a conscious choice to resist love so that as the poet, he controls his own fate. Petrarch 's "Rima 140," is a sonnet which tells the story of love who takes power over the poet in the figure of a knight. Love takes the poet captive in both mind and heart, however, when Love is refused by the object of his affection he flees and abandons the poet. In his description of Love 's conquest over him, Petrarch 's use of metaphors presents images of a soldier 's triumph on the battlefield as the poet is completely is helpless but to blush so that all who see him will know he is under Love 's command: "Love...sometimes comes forth all in armor into my forehead, there camps, and there sets up his banner." When he introduces the object of Love 's affection in the next stanza, "She who teaches us to love and to be patient," it is almost as if he is referring