Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the recently renewed interest in the sonnet as a form of poetry.The paper describes two distinct forms of sonnets and provides examples from original sonnets. The paper suggests that the sonnets of today are much looser and bear only a vague image of the original sonnet. Some of the recent sonnets of Wanda Coleman are specifically discussed.

From the Paper:

"Coleman's poems make the reader experience something real and physical. she causes us to have strong reactions and to really become a part of the poem along with her. To me, her anger reflects the uncertainty and violence of the modern world. She believes that racism should be gone, and it isn't. This makes her incredibly angry, and it should. Laynie Brown's definition of the sonnet fits very well here. Coleman's poems seem like one long breath. It seems as though Coleman can do or talk about anything within the confines of the lines of the poem. It isn't long and rambling, and won't be because it is a sonnet. The reader knows it has a distinct beginning and end, and there is a comfort in that. The sonnet form also probably makes the writer work harder to use just the right words because he/she knows the poem cannot go on forever. I find the resurgence of this form and interesting development in American literature, and I will definitely search out some more of at least Wanda Coleman."

Sample of Sources Used:

• For crying out loud. Economist, 3/27/2004, Vol. 370 Issue 8368, p83-86, 2p, 1c; (AN 12657783)
• Lehrich, Tamar. 'Stone Rock Lady;. The Nation. February 20, 1988.
• Poetic Form: Sonnet. http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5791
• Wanda Coleman's American Sonnets. http://www.thing.net/~grist/l&d/lntcole.htm

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