Shakespeare as Shakespeare as PoetryPoetrySonnets Sonnets

TypesTypes

A sonnet is a lyric poem consisting of A sonnet is a lyric poem consisting of fourteen lines.fourteen lines.

A Shakespearean sonnet contains three A Shakespearean sonnet contains three quatrains (four lines each) and a final quatrains (four lines each) and a final rhyming couplet (two lines).rhyming couplet (two lines).

DefinitionsDefinitions

Quatrain = one of three four-line stanzas Quatrain = one of three four-line stanzas in a Shakespearean sonnetin a Shakespearean sonnet

Couplet =the final two rhyming lines in a Couplet =the final two rhyming lines in a Shakespearean sonnetShakespearean sonnet

Shakespearean Rhyme Scheme = Shakespearean Rhyme Scheme = abab,cdcd,efef,ggabab,cdcd,efef,gg

ExamplesExamples

Prologue Act IPrologue Act I Prologue Act IIPrologue Act II When Romeo and Juliet first meet at the When Romeo and Juliet first meet at the

Capulet ballCapulet ball

ProloguePrologue Two households, both alike in dignity,Two households, both alike in dignity,

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.From forth the fatal loins of these two foesFrom forth the fatal loins of these two foesA pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;Whose misadventured piteous overthrowsWhose misadventured piteous overthrowsDo with their death bury their parents' strife.Do with their death bury their parents' strife.The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,And the continuance of their parents' rage,And the continuance of their parents' rage,Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;The which if you with patient ears attend,The which if you with patient ears attend,What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

Check for UnderstandingCheck for Understanding

What words are used for What words are used for ““ff”” rhyme rhyme scheme in the third quatrain?scheme in the third quatrain?

What two lines are the couplet?What two lines are the couplet?

AnswersAnswers

Rage and StageRage and Stage The which if you with patient ears attend,The which if you with patient ears attend,

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

Prologue Rhyme SchemePrologue Rhyme SchemeTwo households, both alike in dignity, ATwo households, both alike in dignity, AIn fair Verona, where we lay our scene, BIn fair Verona, where we lay our scene, BFrom ancient grudge break to new mutiny, AFrom ancient grudge break to new mutiny, AWhere civil blood makes civil hands unclean. BWhere civil blood makes civil hands unclean. BFrom forth the fatal loins of these two foes CFrom forth the fatal loins of these two foes CA pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; DA pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; DWhose misadventured piteous overthrows CWhose misadventured piteous overthrows CDo with their death bury their parents' strife. DDo with their death bury their parents' strife. DThe fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, EThe fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, EAnd the continuance of their parents' rage, FAnd the continuance of their parents' rage, FWhich, but their children's end, nought could remove,EWhich, but their children's end, nought could remove,EIs now the two hours' traffic of our stage; FIs now the two hours' traffic of our stage; FThe which if you with patient ears attend, GThe which if you with patient ears attend, GWhat here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. GWhat here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. G

Quatrain 1Quatrain 1

Two households, both alike in dignity, ATwo households, both alike in dignity, AIn fair Verona, where we lay our scene, BIn fair Verona, where we lay our scene, BFrom ancient grudge break to new mutiny, A From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, A Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. B Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. B

Quatrain 2Quatrain 2

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes CFrom forth the fatal loins of these two foes CA pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; D A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; D

Whose misadventured piteous overthrows C Whose misadventured piteous overthrows C

Do with their death bury their parents' strife. DDo with their death bury their parents' strife. D

Quatrain 3Quatrain 3The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, EThe fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, E

And the continuance of their parents' rage, F And the continuance of their parents' rage, F

Which, but their children's end, nought could Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,remove, EE

Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; F Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; F

CoupletCouplet

The which if you with patient ears attend, G The which if you with patient ears attend, G

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. GWhat here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. G

Shakespearean SonnetsShakespearean Sonnets(Level 4 Information)(Level 4 Information)

The type of meter used in Shakespearean sonnets is The type of meter used in Shakespearean sonnets is iambic pentameteriambic pentameter

The meter of a poem is its rhythm of accented and The meter of a poem is its rhythm of accented and unaccented syllables organized into patterns called unaccented syllables organized into patterns called feet.feet.

An iamb is a foot consisting of two syllables, one An iamb is a foot consisting of two syllables, one unaccented (unstressed) and one accented (stressed).unaccented (unstressed) and one accented (stressed).

Unaccented syllable = UUnaccented syllable = U Accented syllable = /Accented syllable = / Pentameter means five feet…so each line in a sonnet Pentameter means five feet…so each line in a sonnet

contains five iambscontains five iambs

THEREFORE,THEREFORE,

if an iamb contains two syllables, and if an iamb contains two syllables, and there are five total iambs in each line, the there are five total iambs in each line, the total number of syllables per line in a total number of syllables per line in a Shakespearean sonnet is 10Shakespearean sonnet is 10

Why iambic pentameter?Why iambic pentameter?

It reflects the natural rhythm of the It reflects the natural rhythm of the human heartbeat.human heartbeat.

It is the rhythm most common to our It is the rhythm most common to our natural way of speaking.natural way of speaking.