The Sonnet by Edith Wharton (1896)
The poem explores the theme of unrequited love through a series of 12 sonnets that express the speaker's longing and despair. The speaker describes their beloved as an idealized figure, emphasizing their beauty, elegance, and refinement. However, it becomes clear that the beloved does not return the speaker's affections, leading to a sense of desperation and heartache. Throughout the poem, the speaker grapples with the pain of loving someone who is unattainable, and the sonnets convey a sense of melancholy and resignation.
By Edith Wharton · First published 1896 · Genre: Poetry, Sonnet, Literary Fiction · 153 words
First lines
PURE form, that like some chalice of old time / Contain'st the liquid of the poet's thought / Within thy curving hollow, gem-enwrought / With interwoven traceries of rhyme, / While o'er thy brim the bubbling fancies climb, / What thing am I, that undismayed have sought / To pour my verse with trembling hand untaught / Into a shape so small yet so sublime?
Because perfection haunts the hearts of men, / Because thy sacred chalice gathered up / The wine of Petrarch, Shakspere, Shelley -- then / Receive these tears of failure as they drop / (Sole vintage of my life), since I am fain / To pour them in a consecrated cup.
What this Textopian page supports
The Sonnet is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edith Wharton, dated 1896 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edith Wharton
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Sonnet, Literary Fiction
- Length: 153 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Sonnet by Edith Wharton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, with a clear rhythm and rhyme scheme, typical of poetry.
- Sonnet — The work follows the structure and thematic conventions of a sonnet, a specific form of poetry.
- Literary Fiction — The work explores themes of artistry, perfection, and failure, common in literary fiction.
Tags
Romance · Literary Fiction · Classic · Poetry · American Literature · Early 20th Century · Novella · Love Story · Tragic Love · Social Class · High Society · Marriage