No, form is not an instance -- at least it shouldn't be. But I find it
difficult to separate 'sonnet' from some kind of content, whether it's the
memory of a poem, an author, etc. Forms become thought of as containers that
can be emptied, and it is deceptive... What do you think of when you think
of 'sonata' if not sounds or symbols on the page? My only point is that such
abstractions can be seductive, but ultimately not convincing outside of a
certain use. It is definitely part of the 'extraordinary nature of language'
that makes this possible, makes the concept of 'sonata' teachable, etc.
Maybe the different ways of learning the concepts 'sonnet' or 'sonata'
correspond to different 'instances' of these forms. As Christiaan points
out, 'sonnet' can refer specifically (such as when a child is learning) to
an author, a single poem, etc, in a way that is intermediate to them
learning the 'real' meaning. I don't think we really disagree on this point.
Sarah
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