Sonnets

1. Sonnets Because a thing of beauty is a joy forever

2. Wednesday, January 29 Bellwork Write in complete sentences • What do you know (or can you guess) about sonnets? • What do you like and dislike about poetry in general?

3. “Sonnet” by Billy Collins All we need is fourteen lines, well, thirteen now,and after this one just a dozento launch a little ship on love's storm-tossed seas,then only ten more left like rows of beans. How easily it goes unless you get Elizabethanand insist the iambic bongos must be playedand rhymes positioned at the ends of lines,one for every station of the cross. But hang on here wile we make the turninto the final six where all will be resolved,where longing and heartache will find an end,where Laura will tell Petrarch to put down his pen, take off those crazy medieval tights,blow out the lights, and come at last to bed.

4. An Elizabethan Sonnet: Two households, both alike in dignity,    In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,    From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,    Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.    From forth the fatal loins of these two foes    A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;    Whose misadventured piteous overthrows    Doth with their death bury their parents' strife.    The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,    And the continuance of their parents' rage,    Which, but their children's end, naught could remove,    Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;    The which if you with patient ears attend,    What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.    

5. Let’s see that again… Two households, both alike in dignity,    AIn fair Verona, where we lay our scene,    BFrom ancient grudge break to new mutiny,    AWhere civil blood makes civil hands unclean.    B From forth the fatal loins of these two foes    CA pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;    DWhose misadventured piteous overthrows    CDoth with their death bury their parents' strife.    D The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,    EAnd the continuance of their parents' rage,    FWhich, but their children's end, naught could remove,    EIs now the two hours' traffic of our stage;    F The which if you with patient ears attend,    GWhat here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.    G

6. Thursday, January 30 Bellwork • What is more important in a relationship: telling the truth, or being nice? • For instance, how would you answer the classic question, “Does this make me look fat?” • You might also consider this question: if you really love someone, can you see his or her faults, or are you blind to them? • Is hyperbole annoying or flattering? (Ex.: “Your eyes are brighter than stars.”)

7. Sonnet 130 by Shakespeare My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damasked, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress when she walks treads on the ground. And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.

8. Annotate & Question • Re-read Sonnet 130 • Annotate the sonnet • Use the terms we just learned • What are the proposition & resolution? Where is the volta? • Use other poetic/literary terms you know • Write down level 1 & 2 questions that you have • What does this or that mean? • Write at least 2 level 2 or 3 discussion questions about the poem.

9. Sonnet XV by Edmund Spenser Ye tradefull Merchants that with weary toyle, Do seeke most pretious things to make your gain: And both the Indias of their treasures spoile, What needeth you to seeke so farre in vaine? For loe my love doth in her selfecontaine All this worlds riches that may farre be found, If Saphyres, loehireies be Saphyresplaine, If Rubies, loehir lips be Rubies sound: If Pearles, hir teeth be pearles both pure and round; If Yvorie, her forheadyvoryweene; If Gold, her locks are finest gold on ground; If silver, her faire hands are silver sheene; But that which fairest is, but few behold, Her mind adornd with vertues manifold.

10. Sonnet XV by Edmund Spenser Ye tradefulMerchants that with weary toil, Do seek most precious things to make your gain: And both the Indias of their treasures spoil, What needeth you to seek so far in vain? For lo my love doth in her self contain All this worlds riches that may far be found, If Sapphires, lo her eyes be Sapphires plain, If Rubies, lo her lips be Rubies sound: If Pearls, her teeth be pearls both pure and round; If Ivory, her forehead ivory ween; If Gold, her locks are finest gold on ground; If silver, her fair hands are silver sheen; But that which fairest is, but few behold, Her mind adorned with virtues manifold.

11. Monday, February 10 Bellwork • How’s it going? • Write about whatever is on your mind for SIX WHOLE MINUTES • Some options: • What new things are going on in your life? How do you feel about them? • How is CAP going? Are you looking forward to next year’s classes? Any that you are dreading? • What was your favorite 1-Act from Friday? What did you like about it?

12. Wednesday, February 12 Bellwork • What do the 4 seasons usually symbolize in our literature and popular culture? • Do any of the seasons hold a special symbolism for you personally?

13. Read the sonnet aloud • Switch readers at the end of each line • Switch readers at each punctuation mark • Switch readers with each stanza

14. Get a basic understanding of the poem: • Look up/ask about words you don’t know • Clear up confusing phrases • At the bottom of the page, write one sentence summing up the main “gist” of the poem. (Each group will be required to share!)

15. Begin to analyze the poem: • Identify two poetic/literary devices that are present in the poem. • Explain how each device contributes to the overall message or theme of the poem.

16. Friday, February 14 Bellwork Write about love for 5 whole minutes. • Is there such a thing as “true love”? • What is love? • How do you know whether what you feel is true love? Is there a test? Is it more than a feeling? • How does love play out over a long period of time? Write in COMPLETE SENTENCES!!