Sonnets By Billy Collins The Antihero Of Sonnet

In 2010 Billy Collins writes Sonnet, a piece of literary work I consider to be the antihero of sonnets. Collins ironically follows neither the constructs of a Shakespearean nor Petrarchan Sonnet throughout. He also creatively breathes new life into a strict art form while rejecting the historical rules a sonnet must follow in this work. Upon further review of Sonnet, it becomes clear that this deliberate rule breaking is a skilled nod side-step to historic norms and a promotion of a new age of creativity in the making of a sonnet. The two overarching sonnet forms that serve as the backbone of the majority of other sonnets in existence are the Petrarchan and the Shakespearean forms. A more obscure but noteworthy sonnet form is the†¦show more content†¦Stylistically Sonnet shares very few similarities to the two major forms of sonnets. It contains an octave and a sestet as the Petrarchan sonnet does as well. Beyond this sole equivalence, Sonnet takes a sharp right turn and bo asts its uniqueness. Rhythmically there are only three lines in Sonnet that show regular iambics. The lines are â€Å"then only ten more left like rows of beans† / â€Å"and rhymes positioned at the ends of lines† / â€Å"blow out the lights, and come at last to bed† (Spacey). There are no other noticeable rhyme schemes at play. The entire sonnet is essentially casual-toned free verse. Another deliberate breakaway from the typical conventions of a sonnet are the multiple enjambments found between lines two and ten. We also see literary devices at play like anaphoras in lines: six, seven, eleven and twelve. Additionally, there is some alliteration in line three, six, and nine. Now that I have touched on the stylistic similarity and differences, I’m going to discuss the tone of Sonnet. Generally, some aspect of a poem will clue the reader into whether the speaker is separate entity from the author. However, in Sonnet, we can only assume. Judging by the opin ionated content and strong tone I believe it is safe to deduce the speaker is Collins himself. In the beginning of his sonnet, Collins’ tone is sarcastic,