Question

The genius of Shakespeare's sonnets is that they Question 2 options: exaggerate the meter. make larks arise. merge form and content into a unified whole. express the mystic experiences of the devout. make virtuosic use of sprung rhythm.

Answer 1

Shakespeare's sonnets are celebrated for merging form and content into a unified whole, embodied by the structured rhyme scheme and meter, as well as the turn, or volta, that introduces a shift in thought or emotion. His proficiency in constructing these poems demonstrates his deep understanding of language and his ability to invoke powerful imagery and emotions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The genius of Shakespeare's sonnets is that they merge form and content into a unified whole. The Shakespearian sonnet, following a rhyme scheme of A B A B-C D C D-E F E F-G G and typically composed in iambic pentameter, is a poetic form that allows writers to express complex ideas and emotions within a set structure. The elaborate rhyme scheme and meter of the sonnet force the writer to exercise great skill in wordcraft. Shakespeare's sonnets often explore themes of love and are considered by many to be like passionate love letters or reflections on various aspects of life. The essence of his sonnets is not found in their strict adherence to form alone but in the way Shakespeare masterfully weaves language to capture the intricacies of human experience, characterized by an unmistakable tone that resonates with readers.

The volta, or turn in the sonnet, typically occurs between the octet and sextet in Petrarchan sonnets or between the quatrains and final couplet in Shakespearian sonnets, bringing a shift in thought or emotion. This structural element adds a compelling twist to the poem, further highlighting the poet's ingenuity in merging form with content. Shakespeare's adeptness with the sonnet form demonstrates his unparalleled linguistic creativity and his ability to create musical language that evoked the admiration of both Renaissance and modern audiences.

Answer 2

I would say that the best answer to the question: The genius of Shakespeare´s sonnets is that they:___, would be: Merge form and content into a unified whole.

Step-by-step explanation:

In English poetry, there have been, since its initiation, two styles that have heavily influenced it: the Petrarchan sonnet and the Shakespearean sonnet. In the case of Shakespeare he became highly influential not only because he took a different route to what had, up until his time, been the norm in lyric poetry, especially of the romantic kind, but he actually innovated on it, and even changed it. What Shakesperare did was to create his poems using his own style of meter and rhyme to meet his objectives, going over the styles that had been used by other poets of his time, and of previous times. But he also took content, mostly romantic in essence, and tweaked it, so that, where once poets created sonnets about love and beauty as positive and desirable situations, Shakespeare might not always portray such emotions in that way. But most importantly, what Shakespeare did was to merge form (meter and rhyme) and unified it with the complex thoughts of his time, to produce a unified whole.