SonnetsSonnets

Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter

DefinitionDefinition

A sonnet is a 14-line poem in iambic A sonnet is a 14-line poem in iambic pentameter pentameter

with a carefully patterned rhyme scheme. with a carefully patterned rhyme scheme.

SOME QUICK DEFINITIONS:SOME QUICK DEFINITIONS: End rhyme: rhyming at the end of the line End rhyme: rhyming at the end of the line Rhyme scheme: the pattern of end rhymesRhyme scheme: the pattern of end rhymes

Ex. :Ex. : He had a boxHe had a box aaIn which the foxIn which the fox aaWould sit all dayWould sit all day bbAnd waste awayAnd waste away bb

Types of SonnetsTypes of Sonnets

The The Italian,Italian, or or PetrarchanPetrarchan sonnet, was named sonnet, was named

after Francesco Petrarch, the Italian poet.after Francesco Petrarch, the Italian poet.

Its 14 lines break into an Its 14 lines break into an octaveoctave: : usually rhymes usually rhymes abbaabbaabbaabba, , Sometimes rhymes Sometimes rhymes abbacddc,abbacddc, or or even (rarely) even (rarely) abababababababab; ;

and a and a sestetsestet, which may rhyme , which may rhyme xyzxyzxyzxyz or or xyxyxyxyxyxy, or any of the multiple variations , or any of the multiple variations possible using only two or three rhyme-sounds. possible using only two or three rhyme-sounds.

Translation of Petrarch's Translation of Petrarch's RimaRima, ,

Sonnet 134Sonnet 134II find no peace, and all my war is done; find no peace, and all my war is done; I fear and hope; I burn and freeze like ice; I fear and hope; I burn and freeze like ice; I fly above the wind, yet can I not arise; I fly above the wind, yet can I not arise; And nought I have, and all the world I seize And nought I have, and all the world I seize

on; on; That looseth nor locketh holdeth me in prison That looseth nor locketh holdeth me in prison And holdeth me not, yet can I 'scape nowise; And holdeth me not, yet can I 'scape nowise; Nor letteth me live nor die at my device, Nor letteth me live nor die at my device, And yet of death it giveth none occasion. And yet of death it giveth none occasion. Withouten eyen, I see; and without tongue I Withouten eyen, I see; and without tongue I

plain; plain; I desire to perish, and yet I ask health; I desire to perish, and yet I ask health; I love another, and thus I hate myself; I love another, and thus I hate myself; I feed me in sorrow, and laugh in all my pain; I feed me in sorrow, and laugh in all my pain; Likewise displeaseth me both death and life; Likewise displeaseth me both death and life; And my delight is causer of this strife. And my delight is causer of this strife.

Translated by Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503-1542) Translated by Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503-1542)

aabbbbaaaabbbbaaccddddcceeee

Types of SonnetsTypes of Sonnets

The The EnglishEnglish or or ShakespeareanShakespearean sonnet, sonnet,

consists of three quatrains and a consists of three quatrains and a couplet; couplet;

that is, it rhymes that is, it rhymes abab cdcd efef abab cdcd efef gggg. .

Shakespeare wrote many sonnets that Shakespeare wrote many sonnets that are are

still read and enjoyed today. still read and enjoyed today.

Sonnet 18Sonnet 18

Read ShakespeareRead Shakespeare’’s s Sonnet 18Sonnet 18On your sheet, identify the On your sheet, identify the rhyme scheme.rhyme scheme.

Divide the sonnet into three Divide the sonnet into three stanzas and identify the stanzas and identify the concluding couplet.concluding couplet.

Paraphrase each stanza. What Paraphrase each stanza. What images appear in each stanza?images appear in each stanza?

ShakespeareShakespeare’’s Sonnet 18s Sonnet 18

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?Thou art more lovely and more temperate:Thou art more lovely and more temperate:Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,And summer's lease hath all too short a date:And summer's lease hath all too short a date:Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;And every fair from fair sometime declines,And every fair from fair sometime declines,By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;But thy eternal summer shall not fadeBut thy eternal summer shall not fadeNor lose possession of that fair thou owest;Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,When in eternal lines to time thou growest:When in eternal lines to time thou growest:So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,So long lives this and this gives life to thee.So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

aabbaabbccddccddeeffeeffgggg

Sonnet 130Sonnet 130

Read ShakespeareRead Shakespeare’’s Sonnet 130s Sonnet 130 On your sheet, identify the rhyme scheme.On your sheet, identify the rhyme scheme. Divide the sonnet into three stanzas and Divide the sonnet into three stanzas and identify the concluding couplet.identify the concluding couplet.

Paraphrase each stanza. What images appear Paraphrase each stanza. What images appear in each stanza?in each stanza?

How does Shakespeare seem to mock or make How does Shakespeare seem to mock or make fun of other love poems in this particular fun of other love poems in this particular sonnet?sonnet?

What message does Shakespeare send about What message does Shakespeare send about the idea of true love in this sonnet? Do the idea of true love in this sonnet? Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?you agree or disagree with this opinion?

ShakespeareShakespeare’’s Sonnet 130s Sonnet 130

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;Coral is far more red than her lips' red;Coral is far more red than her lips' red;If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,But no such roses see I in her cheeks;But no such roses see I in her cheeks;And in some perfumes is there more delightAnd in some perfumes is there more delightThan in the breath that from my mistress reeks.Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.I love to hear her speak, yet well I knowI love to hear her speak, yet well I knowThat music hath a far more pleasing sound;That music hath a far more pleasing sound;I grant I never saw a goddess go;I grant I never saw a goddess go;My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rareAnd yet, by heaven, I think my love as rareAs any she belied with false compare. As any she belied with false compare.

aabbaabbccddccddeeffeeffgggg

Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter

A line of iambic pentameter is a line of A line of iambic pentameter is a line of poetry poetry

which follows this pattern of weak and which follows this pattern of weak and strong strong

stresses:stresses:

weak weak STRONGSTRONG weak weak STRONGSTRONG weak weak STRONGSTRONG weak weak STRONGSTRONG weak weak STRONG STRONG

It breaks into five feet, like this:It breaks into five feet, like this:

weak weak STRONGSTRONG / weak / weak STRONGSTRONG / weak / weak STRONGSTRONG / weak / weak STRONGSTRONG / weak / weak STRONG STRONG

Example: ShakespeareExample: Shakespeare’’s Sonnet s Sonnet 116116

LetLet me me notnot to to thethe mar marriage riage of of truetrue minds mindsAdAdmit mit imimpedpediiments. ments. LoveLove is is notnot love loveWhichWhich al altersters when when itit al alterteraationtion finds, finds,OrOr bends bends with with the the reremovmoverer to to reremove:move:OO no! no! itit is is anan ev everer-fix-fixeded mark markThatThat looks looks onon tem tempestspests and and isis ne ne’’er er shashaken;ken;ItIt is is thethe star star toto ev ev’’ryry wand wand’’ringring bark, bark,WhoseWhose worth's worth's un unknown, known, alalthough though hishis height height bebe

tata’’en.en.Love'sLove's not not Time'sTime's fool, fool, thoughthough ro rosysy lips lips andand

cheekscheeksWithWithin in hishis bend bending ing sicksickle's le's comcompass pass come:come:LoveLove al altersters not not withwith his his briefbrief hours hours andand

weeks,weeks,ButBut bears bears itit out out ee’’enen to to thethe edge edge ofof doom. doom.If If this this bebe er errorror and and upupon on meme proved, proved,II ne neverver writ, writ, nornor no no manman ev everer loved. loved.

UnstressedUnstressedWeak Weak

StressedStressedStrongStrong

’’

WeWe’’ve got the beat!ve got the beat!

Can you sound the phrase Can you sound the phrase out?out?

i DO not LIKE green EGGS and HAMi DO not LIKE them, SAM i AM

I AM a PI rate WITH a I AM a PI rate WITH a WOOD en LEG WOOD en LEG

Time to create!Time to create!

Compose a line written in Compose a line written in iambic pentameter!iambic pentameter!