UNDERSTANDING THE FORMS, METER, RHYME, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE SONNET

MARCH 20, 2012

What is a Sonnet?

Sonnet Form

A Sonnet has 14 linesMust be written in iambic pentameter

Each line has 10 syllables (or beats) They alternate in an unstressed/ stressed pattern

A sonnet must follow a specific rhyme scheme, depending on the type of sonnet.

Can be about any subject, though they are usually about love or nature.

Introduces a problem or question in the beginning, and a resolution is revealed or suggested after the “turn”. The point in the sonnet where the poet changes perspective Often caused by a “change of heart”

Iambic Pentameter: Stress & Meter

Consider the sound of the underlined word:1.) Darth Vader decided to crush rebel forces2.) Luke Skywalker will rebel against his

father’s wishes Even though rebel is spelled the same, the stress

sound makes it different.

When we talk, we stress some syllables and leave others “unstressed”. Stressed= Syllables with “long” or “heavy” stress Unstressed= Syllables with “short” or “light” stress

Stress & Meter

In example #1 the pattern of the word rebel is “stressed” then “unstressed” DARTH Vader deCIDed to CRUSH the REBel SOLDier.

In example #2 the pattern of the word rebel is “unstressed” then “stressed” LUKE SKYWALKer WILL reBEL aGAINST his FATHer’s

WISHes.

When a poem has a recognizable but varying pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables, the poetry is written in verse.

Italian Sonnet

Introduced in the 13th Century, means “little song”Also called a Petrarchan Sonnet after Francesco

Petrarch Most of his sonnets are about love, specifically love from

afar Emotionally powerful through the use of metaphors

14-line lyric poem: Contains an octave (8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines)

The turn generally occurs after the octave.The rhyme scheme must begin with abbaabba, and

end with either cdcdcd OR cdecde

Sonnet 90By: Francesco Petrarch

Upon the breeze she spread her golden hairThat in a thousand gentle knots was turned,

And the sweet light beyond all measure burnedIn eyes where now that radius is rare;

And in her face there seemed to come an airOf pity, true or false, that I discerned:

I had love’s tinder in my breast unburned,Was it a wonder if it kindled there?

She moved not like a mortal, but as thoughShe bore an angel’s form, her words had then

A sound that simple human voices lack;

A heavenly spirit, a living sunWas what I saw; now, if it is not so,

The wound’s not healed because the bow grows slack

Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374)

1.) Read P. 334 & 335 for more background information on Francesco Petrarch, one of the most famous Italian sonnet writersTake notes on: Biographical/ Cultural Background info

1. Ex. Composed over 300 poems to a woman whom he never had a relationship with. His Petrarchan Sonnets immortalized her.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

2.) Read “Sonnet 292” and answer questions #1-6 on P. 338.

Edmund Spenser (1552-1599)

The Spenserian SonnetThree quatrains (3 groups of four-lines)

Each quatrain addresses the poem’s central idea, thought, or question

The couplet provides the answer

Variation on the English SonnetEnds in a rhyming couplet (2 rhyming lines)Rhyme Scheme: abab bcbc cdcd ee

Edmund Spenser (1552-1599)

1.) Read P. 318 & 319 for more background information on Edmund Spencer Biographical/ Cultural Background info

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

2.) Read “Sonnet 30” and “Sonnet 75”

Spenserean Sonnets

2.) Read “Sonnet 30” and “Sonnet 75” on P. 320-321

Create a chart as you read similar to the example on P. 319.

Ex. “Sonnet 75” Part of Poem Central Idea

1st Quatrain Whenever I write my significant other’s name in the sand, the waves wash it away.

2nd Quatrain

3rd Quatrain

Couplet

English vs. Italian

English (Petrarchan) ItalianABAB 3 QuatrainsCDCD

EFEF ---------> The TurnGG Rhyming Couplet

ABBA Octave (8)

ABBA ---------> The TurnCD E Sestet (6)

CDE

English Sonnet or Italian Sonnet?

I find no peace, and have no arms for war, and fear and hope, and burn and yet I freeze, and fly to heaven, lying on earth's floor, and nothing hold, and all the world I seize. My jailer opens not, nor locks the door, nor binds me to hear, nor will loose my ties; Love kills me not, nor breaks the chains I wear, nor wants me living, nor will grant me ease.I have no tongue, and shout; eyeless, I see;I long to perish, and I beg for aid;I love another, and myself I hate.Weeping I laugh, I feed on misery,by death and life so equally dismayed:for you, my lady, am I in this state.

English Sonnet or Italian Sonnet?

Lines are in the octave (8 lines) and the sestet (6 lines)I find no peace, and have no arms for war, and fear and hope, and burn and yet I freeze, and fly to heaven, lying on earth's floor, and nothing hold, and all the world I seize. My jailer opens not, nor locks the door, nor binds me to hear, nor will loose my ties; Love kills me not, nor breaks the chains I wear, nor wants me living, nor will grant me ease.I have no tongue, and shout; eyeless, I see;I long to perish, and I beg for aid;I love another, and myself I hate.Weeping I laugh, I feed on misery,by death and life so equally dismayed:for you, my lady, am I in this state.

English Sonnets

AKA Shakespearean SonnetThree quatrains (3 groups of four-lines) and

ends in a rhyming couplet (2 lines)Rhyme Scheme: abab cdcd efef ggThe turn is either after 8 lines or 10 lines.

Example: P. 326 Sonnet 18http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=1ZbAic4R83U

1.) Create a Venn Diagram to Compare and Contrast Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18” with Spencer’s “Sonnet 75” (P. 321)Take notes about: How does each promise to immortalize his beloved? How is each speaker’s promise connected to the

imagry of the poem? Is it ironic that in each sonnet the speaker doesn’t

actually name their beloved?

William Shakespeare 1564-1616

Humble Beginnings: born in Stratford-upon-Avon

Known as “the Bard”Attended Stratford Grammar

School until he was 14 Then he married Anne Hathaway and

entered the “lost years”.Wrote about 37 plays and 154

sonnetsShakespeare’s sonnets all

featured a male speaker and focused on the theme of love. Other common themes: time, death, and poetry itself.

More about Shakespeare!

Left his family to arrive in London and joined the theater company, Lord Chamberlain’s Men.

Earned his money by doing the following: 1.) Part owner of the Globe Theater 2.) An Actor 3.) A Playwright

Generally wrote 3 types of plays: 1.) Tragedy- Ex. Romeo & Juliet 2.) Comedy- Ex. The Taming of the Shrew 3.) Historical- Ex. Henry VIII

Shakespearean Sonnets Recap

Shakespearean sonnets were divided into three quatrains and one couplet.

Shakespearean sonnets featured a turn, or volta, often around lines 9-11.

The rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet was abab cdcd efef gg

The English sonnet, or Shakespearean sonnet, featured 14 lines of iambic pentameter

The Globe TheaterRoofless= Open AirNo Artificial Lighting

Plays were performed in the afternoon to take advantage of the sunlight.

Plays were written/produced for the general audience

Courtyard surrounded by 3 levels of galleriesSpectators:

Wealthy- got benches “Groundlings”- poorer people stood and watched from the

ground (the pit) All except for the wealthy were uneducated/ poor

Burned down during a production of Henry VIII in 1613. Rebuilt the following year.

The Globe Theater

Differences to today’s theater productions: No Scenery Settings were all referenced through dialogue Elaborate Costumes Plenty of props Fast-paced productions Only MALE actors

would perform

“Shakespeare in Love”

Most characters in the film are based off of real people

Ned and the Admirals Men http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg_6JZLUrRc

John Webster - went on to become a well-known playwright himself in which gore plays a prominent part.

Christopher Marlowe A writer who offered a great deal of competition to

Shakespeare’s plays. Marlowe's early, untimely death opened up the scene for Shakespeare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foOquPn1L60

“Shakespeare in Love”

Henslowe and other producers hired playwrights to write their plays.

Censorship: The Master of the Revels power to censor writing & what content appeared on the stage In the 1590s this was a man called Edmund Tilney The Plague It was immoral for a woman to appear on the stage

Alternate Ending http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxxw5bBKvUo Do you think that there really was a muse such as Viola for all of

Shakespeare’s works? In the film, do you think that Viola’s boat really sank? Or was he

just writing his next play as it appears in the deleted scene?

Key Terms to Know!

Iambic PentameterMeterRhyme SchemeCoupletPetrarchan SonnetShakespearean SonnetOctaveSestet

In-Class Activity

With a Partner (or on your own if you rather) read the four sonnets on pp. 326-330 and respond to each using the organizer on the board.

For only ONE of the 4 sonnets do the following (instead of the organizer): Write the complete text of the sonnet Number each line of the sonnet in the margin. On the other

side, note the rhyme scheme after every line. Dissect the iambic pentameter (10 syllables) for one of the

quatrains Indicate where the VOLTA is List any themes after reading the sonnet

Answer questions #1-9 on p. 332 on the back. This is due Wednesday for an assignment grade.

Sonnet Organizer

Line # Key Words & Imagery Summary

Hallmarkean Sonnet Card- Honors

Create a “Hallmarkean” sonnet card that demonstrates your knowledge of sonnet structure.

Turn this in by Friday, April 12th for a Quiz grade

Requirements: 14 line sonnet: 3 quatrains that introduce and extend

the poem’s meaning 1 couplet that either summarizes or concludes the

poem You will also be graded on your creativity and artwork

Hallmarkean Sonnet Grade Rubric

Quatrain 2 _______/15

Quatrain 2 _______/15

Quatrain 3 _______/15

Couplet _______/10

-Introduces theme-Abab rhyme-Iambic pentameter

-Introduces theme-Abab rhyme-Iambic pentameter

-Introduces theme-Abab rhyme-Iambic pentameter

-Summarizes or reverses the theme -gg rhyme scheme -Iambic Pentameter

Overall Effectiveness of poem _______/10

Use of Artwork _______/10

Total _______/75