SONNET-VARIATIONS IN PETRI GYÖRGY’S VOLUME ENTITLED “VALAMI ISMERETLEN” [SOMETHING UNKNOWN]

Abstract

This paper examines the sonnets of György Petri’s lyrical volume entitled “Valami ismeretlen” [Something Unknown] published shortly after the change of the political system in Hungary in 1990. It seems quite interesting that this verse-form (sonnet) has a minimal representation in the first two volumes of this Hungarian poet, while it becomes more frequent – three sonnets per volume in general – in his later books of verse. The book “Something Unknown” seems to be unique from this aspect, since it contains nine sonnets in a very purposeful and structured form regarding the composition of the entire volume. Therefore the methodology and perspective of our paper focuses on a metrical and rhythmical analysis, which attempts to approach and interpret its results not on a descriptive, structuralist basis but rather from the aspect of semantic and poetic effects.