Sonnet Comparison

Since you have studied the sonnet form in some depth, complete a sonnet comparison of 1,200-1,500 words in length. Sonnets have been a popular form of poetry since their invention, and continue to be one of the most popular forms of poetry in English. You can find various types of sonnets in modern day literature. Sonnets are carefully written, with each word having meaning and purpose.

Pick two sonnets to analyze: one taken from the readings, and one of your choice that was written between 1750 and the present.
Paraphrase the two sonnets in prose (explain the meanings of the lines and the specific metaphors and other comparisons used).
Analyze the two sonnets’ form: what kinds of sonnets they are in terms of rhyme scheme, what rhythm they have, and what structural subdivisions they have.
Explain the connotations of the major metaphor or metaphors used, and elaborate about how the major metaphors shape the point the author wants to make in the poem.
Compare and contrast the sonnets, in form and content.
Include a full copy of both sonnets used after the References page. (The sonnets are not part of the total word count.)
Quotations and paraphrases of specific lines of the sonnets chosen can be cited by line number, though the poems themselves should be entries on the References page. Use MLA format for the paper and references themselves.