Shakespeare, Sonnet 18Worksheet

The traditional Italian sonnet (from "sonetto," little song) sang the praised of a beloved and often unattainable woman. Shakespeare invokes that concept in his first line, a question, and then upends it immediately in several clever ways, first by saying his beloved is far greater than any metaphorical comparison with nature, and finally by praising his own work as a poet as immortal. The sonnet ends up being far more about the poet's excellence than his beloved's.

1. Rhyme scheme: _______________________

2. Meter: __________ _______________________

3. Theme (revelation of human nature): _____________________________________________

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4. Elements of Musicality (alliteration, repetition of key words, etc.): _____________________

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5. Turn/Twist/Volta: _____________________________________________________________

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