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David Hullinger
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Year: Senior
Major(s): Operations Management
Mentor: Kerkering, John
Department: English
Project Title: Contemporary Innovation in the Epic Sonnet
Project Abstract: The sonnet has long been considered a love poem or a vehicle for poetical argumentation. Yet instead of adopting a personal or romantic tone, some sonnets display the grandeur and majesty characteristic of epic narrative. These sonnets deal with heroes and consequential events, adopting a unique set of techniques to suit their content, and can be described as epic sonnets. Although the possibilities of this sub-genre were (most notably) explored by John Milton, many contemporary poets have demonstrated a reluctance to use the sonnet in this way. This project explores the themes and techniques that create an epic sonnet, thus stretching the customary range of the form.
