The Mysterious Sonnets

Examining this thesis the reader can obtain an insight into the world of the English and the Italian sonnets. Through this one can learn about the age and culture in which Shakespeare and his contemporaries -- like Sidney and Spencer -- had lived. By scrutinizing the traditional Italian sonnet form and content one will be introduced into Petrarch's world and gets to know one of his major work the Canzoniere. Besides that the reader will become aware of the mysteries which encircle Shakespeare's 154 sonnet. It will be seen that _even the researchers, who left several books behind about the topic, could not reveal the main characters of the mysteries surely. The exact identity of the Dark Lady and the Fair Youth has remained mysteries and it gives opportunity to another brave assumptions. Inspite of the fact that this thesis sought the possible answers did not take sides.