Topic > A critical analysis of the 'inverted sonnet'

Handsome, charming and highly intellectual, Rupert Brooke was one of the first soldier-poets of the First World War. His poems are cemented to the ideals and fears of the generation at the time of cultural transitions. His literary pieces are extremely influenced by social, cultural and political issues. The rural imagery and classical tradition of the society are compared to the frenetic city life. His numerous poems and sonnets were written based on these themes; patriotic, death, love, social and cultural conflicts (Rogers, 1997). Steven (2009) argues that his poetry is mostly connected to death with love leading to the loss of love rather than attainment. Jamieson (2018) stated that the characteristics of the sonnet are fourteen-line poems, written in iambic pentameter and rhyme schemes. Over the time period, different types of sonnets evolved with variations in rhyme scheme and metrical scheme. Rupert Brooke's 'Sonnet Reversed' was written in 1911 before the outbreak of war and has a peculiar form. This essay will critically examine new sonnet forms and explore themes, social contexts, and uses of literary devices. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In this poem, it is observed that the poet breaks the traditional rules of sonnet formation. There is no uniformity in the formation of the quatrains and the couplet. Abrams (2007) confirmed that the sonnets are analyzed thematically in two sections. The first section presents the issues and tribulations, and the second part shows the resolution of the issues and problems. Next, it is followed by the couplet that provides complete thoughts and answers to the problems. In this sonnet, Brooke strangely begins her sonnet with a couplet that is traditionally used at the end, to provoke thoughts and emotions. The adventures and disputed parts of the sonnet follow. It breaks the traditional structure of the sonnet by not respecting certain rules. Brooke tends to focus only on the positive aspects of married life, leaving out the undesirable aspects of life. The sonnet also denies the Petrarchan aspects of life where society is involved in courtly love and everything must follow convention. Brooke's first couplet shows the new twist on the idea as an introduction to a sonnet. His sonnet begins with wonderful observations introducing couples who have strong relationships. It begins with the celebration of love, goodness, and morality as exemplified, “Hand trembling toward the hand: the striking lights/of the heart and the eye. They stood on supreme heights” (Brook, 1911). This conventional sonnet begins with a heroic couplet symbolically compared to the "amazing lights" since light is the source of goodness, reality, and purity. The couplet begins with two lovers who have embarked on their honeymoon and find themselves on "supreme heights" and imagining superiority and power. The word "trembling" in the first line suggests extreme emotion and love to be expressed forcefully, and it seems that nothing can disturb the union. On the other hand it reflects the power and strength of the middle class which dominates the third class. Helmer (2017) argued in his case study that class and racial divisions occurred in the 19th century. Third class people were treated badly by the middle class as they were unskilled workers. People from the British underclass had to do boring jobs and there were no other alternatives to protect them. The sonnet describes couples descending into city life. It also expresses the couple's lifestyle and its changes. The term honeymoon“delusional” indicates that the emotional expression of love begins and ends very quickly as life is too short for them. This overexcitement and goodness infuriates until excited dreams become an illusion. Likewise, the couple's lives seem to be 'strange' and remain a distant memory of love, where couples are ready to settle into their routine life. The couple is experiencing an extreme and stereotypical emotional idea of ​​love which is expressed in the sonnet as Cardwell (1996) defined stereotype as “a fixed and over-generalized belief about a particular group or class of people.” The word "Cityward daily" clearly states that they feel domineering and live in a standard way in the changed world. The couple is also proud of their lifestyle change from the countryside to the city. The poet opposes the power of money associated with the rich. The couples are ironically depicted as powerful, wealthy people and the standard that everyone wants to reach. Couples are "fairly happy" with work and social pleasures. They have become rich and powerful where no one can compete. The word 'still' is used repeatedly in the sonnet to transport readers into city life. Barzun (1961) rightly stated that the love of the modern age is the love of the exotic, an exaggeration and a science. Brooke's realistic view of love is considered the most exciting and optimistic as she describes the richness of the couple's life quoted as: “Their money was in Can.Pacs. B.Bonds,/E to Antofagastas. However he left” (Brooke, 1911). The couples are used metaphorically as a middle class family associated with wealth. Their “money” refers to wealth and yet they generate and store it in different places. Brooke also points to minor radical feminism in her sonnet. Mitchell (2000) explains: “Radical feminists believe that there is a male-based authority and power structure and that this is responsible for oppression and inequality, and that as long as the system and its values ​​are in place, society it will not be able to be meaningfully reformed.” If we mean radical feminism, it is a fact that there is an indication of radical feminism in the sonnet. The male couple is rooted in authority and power, and the female couple lives at home "respecting" certain traditional norms and beliefs. In this sonnet, the male couple is aware of their work in the city neighborhood and the woman stays at home. The poet is concerned with the world of modernity and social revolution. With the development of arts and fashion, people try to be sophisticated and get rid of the traditions and values ​​of the past. Here, middle-class couples seek to work and enjoy the social pleasures of the city, forgetting traditional values ​​and beliefs. Lemaitre (1947) stated that before the 20th century the rise of modernity and social revolution occurred with many art forms and technologies emerging that contradicted the tradition and values ​​of the past. People began to explore other cultures, traditions and lifestyles. The society became more explicit and revealed many changes in tradition and culture. This is due to modernity and the development of nations. Brooke proclaims in the sonnet that death is a universal truth of life. He was worried about the death he had seen during the war. The poet tries to say that death would occur to anyone else. The couple had an intense love and dizzying wealth, but the couple had left their remaining children and wealth behind the world. Their harmony is no longer seen and their lives are not dissatisfied. Shmoop Editorial Team (2008) recasts Brooke's sonnet 'Dead' as "There will be, / in that rich hidden land.