Unravelling contrasts in the Sonnets: "Remember" vs. “Sonnet 130” Question: How do Rossetti and Shakespeare defy norms in their sonnets while also captivating readers with their distinct structures and motivations?

Beyond the Lines: Unfolding Shakespeare’s and Rossetti’s Themes in their Sonnets Your Name Subject and Section Professor’s Name Date Introduction Sonnets have a long history of tradition, and they have been used to convey the emotions and messages of the writers. Two known sonnets of all time include Rossetti's "Remember" and Shakespeare's "Sonnet 130." This paper examines the structure, content, and implications for the society of each masterpiece. Both sonnets followed the traditional 14 lines. However, each structure is different. Firstly, in Sonnet 130, each of the 14 lines follows a rhythm consisting of five pairs of syllables, and the initial syllable for each pair is stressed, followed by an unstressed second syllable. Furthermore, each line is divided into three groups, and each group consists of four lines, called the quatrain. Lastly, every three quatrains are followed by a couplet. By contrast, Rossetti's "Remember" utilized the Petrarchan sonnet with 14 lines like Shakespeare's. However, the 14 lines are divided into the first eight lines and the last six lines. These are called the octave and sestet, respectively. Next, in Sonnet 130, Shakespeare followed the rhyming scheme of "ababcdcdefefgg," where the first and third, second and fourth, and so on, rhyme. On the other hand, in Remember, Rossetti adheres to the rhyming scheme of "abbaabba" for the octave and "cdcdcd" for the sestet. It is also essential to understand the volta. This is where the author's tone shifts, indicating a change in attitude or emotion. In Sonnet 130, the volta can be found at the end of the couplet, signifying contrasting ideas. This can be heard "And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare / As any she belied with false compare." (Shakespeare, 1609, lines 123-14). Conversely, Rossetti's...