What is a Sonnet?What is a Sonnet?

Understanding the forms, Understanding the forms, meter, rhyme, and other meter, rhyme, and other aspects of the sonnetaspects of the sonnet..

Sonnet FormSonnet Form

• A sonnet has 14 lines.A sonnet has 14 lines.

• A sonnet must be written in iambic pentameterA sonnet must be written in iambic pentameter

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

• A sonnet can be about any subject, though they A sonnet can be about any subject, though they are often about love or nature.are often about love or nature.

• A sonnet introduces a problem or question in A sonnet introduces a problem or question in the beginning, and a resolution is offered after the beginning, and a resolution is offered after the turn.the turn.

Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter

• A line of Iambic Pentameter is a line A line of Iambic Pentameter is a line with ten beats.with ten beats.

• An “Iamb” is two beats, or one “foot.”An “Iamb” is two beats, or one “foot.”

• ““Penta” is five (line has five “feet”).Penta” is five (line has five “feet”).

• ““Meter” is the rhythm of the poem.Meter” is the rhythm of the poem.

• A “foot” is made of an unstressed A “foot” is made of an unstressed syllable and a stressed syllable (in that syllable and a stressed syllable (in that order).order).

English SonnetEnglish Sonnet

• An English Sonnet is also called a An English Sonnet is also called a Shakespearean Sonnet.Shakespearean Sonnet.

• It includes three quatrains (groups of It includes three quatrains (groups of four lines) and a couplet (two lines).four lines) and a couplet (two lines).

• The rhyme scheme is often abab The rhyme scheme is often abab cdcd efef gg.cdcd efef gg.

• The turn is either after eight lines or The turn is either after eight lines or ten lines.ten lines.

Italian SonnetItalian Sonnet

• An Italian Sonnet is also called a An Italian Sonnet is also called a Petrarchan Sonnet.Petrarchan Sonnet.

• It includes an octave (eight lines) and a It includes an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines).sestet (six lines).

• The rhyme scheme must begin with The rhyme scheme must begin with abbaabba, and can conclude with any abbaabba, and can conclude with any variation of c, d, and e (cdecde, cdcdee, variation of c, d, and e (cdecde, cdcdee, etc.).etc.).

• The turn must occur between the octave The turn must occur between the octave and the sestet.and the sestet.

What type of sonnet is What type of sonnet is “What the Sonnet Is”?“What the Sonnet Is”?

• What are the groupings of the lines What are the groupings of the lines (how many lines are in each group)?(how many lines are in each group)?

• What is the rhyme scheme?What is the rhyme scheme?• Where is the turn?Where is the turn?• Based on your answers, what kind of Based on your answers, what kind of

sonnet is it?sonnet is it?Write these questions on your paper and Write these questions on your paper and

answer them when the sonnet is answer them when the sonnet is shown.shown.

““What the Sonnet is”What the Sonnet is”

Fourteen small broidered berries on the hemFourteen small broidered berries on the hemOf Circe’s mantle, each of magic gold;Of Circe’s mantle, each of magic gold;Fourteen of lone Calypso’s tears that rolledFourteen of lone Calypso’s tears that rolledInto the sea, for pearls to come of them;Into the sea, for pearls to come of them;Fourteen clear signs of omen in the gemFourteen clear signs of omen in the gemWith which Medea human fate foretold;With which Medea human fate foretold;Fourteen small drops, which Faustus, growing old,Fourteen small drops, which Faustus, growing old,Craved of the Fiend, to water Life’s dry stem.Craved of the Fiend, to water Life’s dry stem.It is the pure white diamond Dante broughtIt is the pure white diamond Dante broughtTo Beatrice; the sapphire Laura woreTo Beatrice; the sapphire Laura woreWhen Petrarch cut it sparkling out of thought;When Petrarch cut it sparkling out of thought;The ruby Shakespeare hewed from his heart’s core;The ruby Shakespeare hewed from his heart’s core;The dark, deep emerald that Rossetti wroughtThe dark, deep emerald that Rossetti wroughtFor his own soul, to wear for evermore.For his own soul, to wear for evermore.~Eugene Lee-Hamilton~Eugene Lee-Hamilton

What type of sonnet is What type of sonnet is “What the Sonnet Is”?“What the Sonnet Is”?

Lines are in an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines).Lines are in an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines).

Fourteen small broidered berries on the hemFourteen small broidered berries on the hemOf Circe’s mantle, each of magic gold;Of Circe’s mantle, each of magic gold;Fourteen of lone Calypso’s tears that rolledFourteen of lone Calypso’s tears that rolledInto the sea, for pearls to come of them;Into the sea, for pearls to come of them;Fourteen clear signs of omen in the gemFourteen clear signs of omen in the gemWith which Medea human fate foretold;With which Medea human fate foretold;Fourteen small drops, which Faustus, growing old,Fourteen small drops, which Faustus, growing old,Craved of the Fiend, to water Life’s dry stem.Craved of the Fiend, to water Life’s dry stem.It is the pure white diamond Dante broughtIt is the pure white diamond Dante broughtTo Beatrice; the sapphire Laura woreTo Beatrice; the sapphire Laura woreWhen Petrarch cut it sparkling out of thought;When Petrarch cut it sparkling out of thought;The ruby Shakespeare hewed from his heart’s core;The ruby Shakespeare hewed from his heart’s core;The dark, deep emerald that Rossetti wroughtThe dark, deep emerald that Rossetti wroughtFor his own soul, to wear for evermore.For his own soul, to wear for evermore.

What type of sonnet is What type of sonnet is “What the Sonnet Is”?“What the Sonnet Is”?

• Rhyme scheme is abbaabba cdcdcd.Rhyme scheme is abbaabba cdcdcd. Fourteen small broidered berries on the hemFourteen small broidered berries on the hemOf Circe’s mantle, each of magic gold;Of Circe’s mantle, each of magic gold;Fourteen of lone Calypso’s tears that rolledFourteen of lone Calypso’s tears that rolledInto the sea, for pearls to come of them;Into the sea, for pearls to come of them;Fourteen clear signs of omen in the gemFourteen clear signs of omen in the gemWith which Medea human fate foretold;With which Medea human fate foretold;Fourteen small drops, which Faustus, growing old,Fourteen small drops, which Faustus, growing old,Craved of the Fiend, to water Life’s dry stem.Craved of the Fiend, to water Life’s dry stem.It is the pure white diamond Dante broughtIt is the pure white diamond Dante broughtTo Beatrice; the sapphire Laura woreTo Beatrice; the sapphire Laura woreWhen Petrarch cut it sparkling out of thought;When Petrarch cut it sparkling out of thought;The ruby Shakespeare hewed from his heart’s core;The ruby Shakespeare hewed from his heart’s core;The dark, deep emerald that Rossetti wroughtThe dark, deep emerald that Rossetti wroughtFor his own soul, to wear for evermore.For his own soul, to wear for evermore.

What type of sonnet is What type of sonnet is “What the Sonnet Is”?“What the Sonnet Is”?

• The turn in this sonnet is between the The turn in this sonnet is between the octave and the sestet, or after eight lines.octave and the sestet, or after eight lines.

• The period at the end of line eight is a clue The period at the end of line eight is a clue that this is the turn, especially because it that this is the turn, especially because it is one of only two periods in the sonnet.is one of only two periods in the sonnet.

• Before the turn, the speaker is telling of Before the turn, the speaker is telling of groups of fourteen; after the turn, he tells groups of fourteen; after the turn, he tells of who wrote the sonnets.of who wrote the sonnets.

What type of sonnet is What type of sonnet is “What the Sonnet Is”?“What the Sonnet Is”?

““What the Sonnet Is” is What the Sonnet Is” is an Italian/Petrarchan an Italian/Petrarchan

Sonnet!Sonnet!