Sonnets have remained popular because they allow poets to explore profound and universal themes such as love, loss, beauty, and mortality in a compact and structured form.

The sonnet gained prominence in the English language during the Renaissance period, particularly through the works of poets such as William Shakespeare and Edmund Spenser.

The Shakespearean sonnet, also known as the English sonnet, typically follows a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, consisting of three quatrains and a final couplet.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a renowned poet of the Victorian era who extensively employed the sonnet form, particularly in her collection 'Sonnets from the Portuguese'.

Romantic poets such as William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge challenged traditional sonnet conventions by experimenting with rhyme schemes, exploring personal emotions, and incorporating elements of nature and the supernatural.

Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare, beginning with the line 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?', is widely regarded as one of the most famous and influential sonnets in the English language.

Victorian poets such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Alfred, Lord Tennyson contributed to the evolution of the sonnet by introducing new thematic elements, experimenting with different sonnet forms, and exploring the relationship between love and spirituality.

E.E. Cummings was known for his innovative use of the sonnet form in the 20th century, often breaking traditional rules of syntax, punctuation, and capitalization.

Modernist poets such as Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot challenged traditional notions of the sonnet by rejecting the use of rhyme and meter, exploring urban and industrial themes, and incorporating fragmented and disjointed language.

The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot is often cited as a prime example of the Modernist approach to the sonnet, as it incorporates fragmented language, urban imagery, and a disjointed narrative structure.

Contemporary poets have adapted the sonnet form to reflect modern sensibilities by exploring diverse themes and experiences, experimenting with language and form, and incorporating elements of popular culture.

Adrienne Rich, Louise Glück, and Billy Collins are all contemporary poets who have been recognized for their innovative use of the sonnet form, exploring diverse themes and experimenting with language and structure.

The critical reception of sonnets has varied over time, with different historical periods and literary movements having their own unique perspectives on the form.

Some common criticisms of the sonnet form include its perceived restrictiveness, lack of originality, and outdatedness in relation to modern readers.

Sonnets continue to be written and appreciated because they provide a structured and challenging form for poetic expression, allow poets to explore universal themes concisely, and have a rich literary history and tradition.