Shakespeare’s Sonnets (Pre-1590 Context and Influences)
While William Shakespeare’s Sonnets were published in 1609, their stylistic foundations were firmly rooted in the Elizabethan sonnet tradition that flourished before 1590. Understanding their place in literary history requires examining the influences that shaped them during this formative period.
1. The Elizabethan Sonnet Vogue (1580s-1590s)
Shakespeare’s sonnets emerged from a thriving culture of sonnet-writing that dominated late 16th-century England:
Petrarchan Influence: Like Sidney and Spenser, Shakespeare adapted the Italian sonnet tradition but subverted its conventions.
Courtly Love Tropes: Early sonnets (possibly composed in the 1590s) engage with—and often parody—Petrarchan ideals of unattainable beauty.
Publication Context: Though published later, many sonnets circulated privately before 1600, suggesting earlier composition.
2. Innovations Anticipated Before 1590
Shakespeare’s eventual departures from tradition built upon pre-1590 developments:
English (Shakespearean) Sonnet Form: Perfected the ABABCDCDEFEFGG structure pioneered by Surrey.
Themes of Time and Mortality: Echoed Daniel’s and Drayton’s meditations on decay and artistic immortality.
Psychological Realism: Extended Sidney’s introspective approach in Astrophil and Stella.
3. Key Distinctions from Earlier Sonneteers
While influenced by predecessors, Shakespeare’s sonnets (even in nascent form) displayed unique traits:
Gender Dynamics: The “Dark Lady” sonnets inverted Petrarchan blond-ideal tropes.
Male Friendship Sonnets: The sequence to the “Fair Youth” (unprecedented in Elizabethan sonnets) explored complex homosocial bonds.
Metapoetic Depth: Sonnets about poetry itself (e.g., Sonnet 18: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”) surpassed earlier self-referential verse.
4. Legacy of the Pre-1590 Foundations
The sonnet tradition Shakespeare inherited—and transformed—owed its vitality to:
Sidney’s Wit: The playful irony of Astrophil and Stella.
Spenser’s Musicality: The flowing rhymes of Amoretti.
Daniel’s Elegiac Tone: The melancholy of Delia.
Thus, while Shakespeare’s sonnets peaked after 1590, their genius was forged in the crucible of this earlier Elizabethan renaissance.