The Sonnet has enjoyed a rich history over the last 700 years. It was first used in Italy, and the poet Petrarch is well remembered for the many sonnets that he wrote. However, for English speakers, the first name to come to mind, when discussing sonnets, is William Shakespeare (we used his 18th sonnet as an example when looking at poetic devices).

When examining a Sonnet it is important to consider it's theme, and how that theme is effected by the turn, a shift in meaning or perspective that is typically found about halfway through the poem, at the start of the 9th line (though some of Shakespeare's sonnets save the turn for line 13 at the start of the couplet).

For a more extensive history of the sonnet, take a look at this article from the Encyclopedia Britannica. It does an excellent job tracing the poem and how it developed over the centuries.

Then, when you are ready, please watch the following video, an analysis of William Shakespeare's "Sonnet 18."