William Wordsworth

One of the most famous poets in literary history is that of William Wordsworth. He lived between the years of 1770-1850. He was a very strong poet and many of his works have some degree of a pessimistic view to them. They could be understood after the hard life he led. He saw the French Revolution at its height and wrote several poems about it. He had an illegitimate daughter with a woman in France. When he returned back to England he married Mary Hutchinson, who gave him two sons and another daughter.

Till this day we can read the famous poems and ballads of Wordsworth. One poem that caught my attention was that of Scorn not the sonnet. The poem is rather interesting and brings up other poets before his time. It also talks about the form and the meaning of a sonnet. He talks of the sonnet as a delicate work of art. Wordsworth describes each part of the sonnet by talking of another poet. He describes how one of the other poets helped shape the form of sonnet writing.

In the first two lines of the poem he is writing of a critic. Wordsworth writes “Scorn not the sonnet; Critic, you have frowned, mindless of its just honors;” These two lines state the critic or the audience is not able to understand what is being written in the sonnet. Wordsworth from the beginning says that the sonnets hold honor in their form of literary writing. This style of writing was very popular among the sixteen hundreds and most well known writers are known because of their sonnets. The sonnets gave the writers honor as the sonnet took honor of its own.

Next he goes on to say, “with this key Shakespeare unlocked his heart;” Without going into great detail Shakespeare is none for his incredible sonnets as well as hi plays. Wordsworth here begins to show how each poet contributed to this writing still. He begins off with Shakespeare. Wordsworth explains that through these sonnets Shakespeare’s heart was opened so therefore he was able to write such meaning full sonnets with love and passion. By the honor that was bestowed by the sonnets Shakespeare was able to be more expressive and gain his own honor.

Petrarch, who was one of the early sonnet writers is also one of the great Italian poets. His sonnets dealt with his unrequited love for a woman by the name of Laura.