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The Shakespearean Sonnet
In the 16 th Century, the sonnet made its way into English poetry. Sir Philip Sidney developed
it, but it came to be known as the Shakespearean sonnet (after Shakespeare made it truly
famous). This form is quite different to the Petrarchan sonnet:
• It is written in iambic pentameter (lines of 10 syllables, with alternating stressed and
unstressed syllables).
• It is divided into 3 verses of four lines each, known as ‘quatrains’, and finished with
a rhyming couplet which also served as the Volta.
• Its rhyme scheme is also different: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
However, the topic of Shakespearean sonnets remains the same: they are all about love.
The Context
Shakespeare published his sonnets in 1609. The collection contained 154 sonnets in total. In
a shocking twist to the standard use of sonnets, the first 126 were addressed to a man
known only as ‘fair youth’. Since the date of publication there has been speculation over
whether this male to male love was purely platonic and friendship based, or romantic and
sexual. Bearing in mind the poem was written at a time when homosexuality was a crime
punishable by execution, it was a brave move by Shakespeare to publish these sonnets at
all. If his love was sexual he risked death in professing it. If his love was platonic, he risked
being misunderstood and getting into trouble. The aim of my notes is to examine the
evidence for both platonic and romantic interpretations: giving alternative interpretations is
one of the A* skills in the exam, so keep both ideas in mind.
The Poem
Most poems on the GCSE course have a simple, literal meaning and a hidden, deeper
meaning. As you read the poem for the first time you should try and work out the simple,
literal meaning. You should also jot down any words you do not understand (with
Shakespeare there are bound to be a few of these). Use an online dictionary to find the
meaning before moving onto the next section of this guide.
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