Miltonic Sonnet Form

Summary

The undefined website content introduces the Miltonic sonnet form, challenging readers to try writing one and providing an example with a political theme.

Abstract

The website delves into the Miltonic sonnet, a variant of the Petrarchan sonnet that employs enjambment and is known for addressing moral and political issues rather than love. It maintains the traditional iambic pentameter and the rhyme scheme abbaabbacdecde, with a slow pivot after line eight. The content also showcases an example of a Miltonic sonnet by Christina Ward, which reflects on the current state of political division and calls for decency and hope.

Opinions

The Miltonic sonnet is presented as a form that modernizes the traditional Petrarchan structure through the use of enjambment.
There is an emphasis on the Miltonic sonnet's departure from love poetry to tackle broader themes such as politics and social issues.
The example sonnet provided expresses concern over societal division, questioning the nature of truth in media, and the need for a humble leader to emerge.
The author of the example sonnet, Christina Ward, is recognized as an admin for the Poets on Medium (POM) Facebook group and is commended for experimenting with the Miltonic sonnet form.
The website content suggests a sense of urgency and a call to action for readers to engage with poetry as a means of commenting on and coping with contemporary issues.

a challenge to you to try a Miltonic Sonnet

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In Poets on Medium (POM) FB group we are still celebrating #Sonnetober. First we explored the Elizabethan sonnet, learned its form, about iambic pentameter, looked at examples, and some of us wrote our own.

Then we did the same with Petrarchan sonnets and Spenserian sonnets — now, the Miltonic sonnet. If you are unfamiliar with this form, here is a brief intro:

Miltonic Sonnet converts the traditional Petrarchan sonnet form by the use of enjambment. This 17th century form was created by English poet, John Milton. Milton also took the sonnet out of the category of “love poems” and brought it into the world of politics and social issues.

The elements of the Miltonic Sonnet are:

a quatorzain, enjambment is used to tighten the sonnet, leaving the 14 lines unbroken by stanzas.

metered, iambic pentameter

rhymed, uses the Petrarchan rhyme scheme abbaabbacdecde.

pivot evolves slowly after L8.

composed around the themes of moral issues and political insights. — Miltonic sonnets

My attempt at a Miltonic sonnet, in political theme:

Sonnet 6

A country divided, we’re split along a fault line, a deeply disturbing shift of intolerance, propels us toward unprecedented events each side convinced the other’s committing crimes. The news, the news — is this truth, or just fake lies? The pomp in red tie, let the boasting commence — we snowflakes, we sheep, we cannot bear or make sense of the state of affairs, how we stand with our allies. Cannot a leader rise up from amongst the humble before we self-destruct and find ourselves alone — in a state of ruin, in a world of hate? Before we’ve been reduced to rubble? I beg of us decency, this is our home! There must be hope for us — it’s not too late.

Christina Ward 🍁🌲 is the admin for POM, an avid poetess, and she’s feeling rather snazzy for trying out a new poetic form.