Types of Sonnets ENG 3U0

1. Types of SonnetsENG 3U0

2. Sonnets There are two (2) main types of sonnets, the Shakespearian and the Petrarchan sonnet. The Petrarchan sonnet is also known as the Italian sonnet and the Shakespearian sonnet is often known as the English sonnet. All sonnets have fourteen (14) lines and contain a volta within it.

3. Petrarchan Sonnets • Came from the Italian poet Petrarch. • The Petrarchan sonnet came about in the early 11th century. • This type of sonnet can be divided into two sections: • The octave (the first eight lines) • The sestet (the last 6 lines)

4. Petrarchan Sonnets…cont’d • The octave usually presents a question or proposition, while the sestet provides the resolution or to solution to the problem. • The volta or “turn/shift” in the poem occurs between the octave and the sestet.

5. Petrarchan Sonnets…cont’d • The general rhyme scheme for a Petrarchan sonnet generally follows: • Octave – abba abba • Sestet – cde cde or cdc cdc • There are other variants to this rhyme scheme

6. Petrarchan Sonnets…cont’d Some famous poets who use this form in their poetry include John Milton, Thomas Gray, William Wordsworth and Elizabeth Barret Browning.

7. SONNET #43, FROM THE PORTUGUESEBy Elizabeth Barrett Browning Petrarchan Sonnets…cont’d Octave 1.How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 2.I love thee to the depth and breadth and height 3.My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight 4.For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. 5.I love thee to the level of everyday's 6.Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. 7.I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; 8.I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. Sestet 9.I love thee with the passion put to use 10.In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. 11.I love thee with a love I seemed to lose 12. With my lost saints!---I love thee with the breath,13.Smiles, tears, of all my life!---and, if God choose, 14.I shall but love thee better after death.

8. Petrarchan Sonnets…cont’d • The rhyme scheme of "Sonnet 43" is as follows: • Lines 1 to 8–ABBA, ABBA; • the ninth line creates a "turn" or volta which signals the move from proposition to resolution. • Lines 9 to 14–CD, CD, CD.

9. Do the Rhyme scheme ; all “a’s” rhyme etc Octave 1.How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 2.I love thee to the depth and breadth and height 3.My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight 4.For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. 5.I love thee to the level of everyday's 6.Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. 7.I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; 8.I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. Sestetthe ninth line creates a "turn" or volta which signals the move from proposition to resolution. 9.I love thee with the passion put to use 10.In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. 11.I love thee with a love I seemed to lose 12. With my lost saints!---I love thee with the breath,13.Smiles, tears, of all my life!---and, if God choose, 14.I shall but love thee better after death.

10. Octave 1.How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.A 2.I love thee to the depth and breadth and height B3.My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight B4.For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. A5.I love thee to the level of everyday's A6.Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. B7.I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; B8.I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. A SestetTHEN THE TURN OR VOLTA: 9.I love thee with the passion put to use C10.In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. D11.I love thee with a love I seemed to lose C12. With my lost saints!---I love thee with the breath, D13.Smiles, tears, of all my life!---and, if God choose,C14.I shall but love thee better after death. D ABBA ABBACD CD CD

11. Shakespearian Sonnet • Was originally introduced by Thomas Wyatt in the 16th century. • The sonnets became known as Shakespearian because William Shakespeare used the form so frequently in his plays and in his own poetry.

12. Shakespearian Sonnet…cont’d • This type of sonnet can be divided into four sections: • Three(3) quatrains (three groupings of four lines) • A rhyming couplet (final two lines share a rhyme scheme) • The three quatrains usually presents a problem or proposition, while the rhyming couplet provides a resolution OR solution to the problem.

13. Shakespearian Sonnet…cont’d • The volta in the poem occurs between the quatrains and the rhyming couplet. • The general rhyme scheme for a Shakespearean sonnet generally follows: • Quatrain – abab cdcd efef • Rhyming couplet – gg

14. Shakespearian Sonnet…cont’d Some famous poets who use this form in their poetry include William Shakespeare, Thomas Wyatt, Robert Frost, Edna St. Vincent Millay and e. e. cummings.

15. Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130 My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun 1.My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;2.Coral is far more red than her lips' red;3.If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;4.If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.5.I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,6.But no such roses see I in her cheeks;7.And in some perfumes is there more delight8.Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.9.I love to hear her speak, yet well I know10.That music hath a far more pleasing sound;11.I grant I never saw a goddess go;12.My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:13.And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare14.As any she belied with false compare

16. The first four lines • The first twelve lines rhyme in alternating pairs. To show how this works, we can assign a letter to each rhyme: Here’s how it works:My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; ACoral is far more red than her lips' red; BIf snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; AIf hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. B

17. Rhyme scheme ??? U Can work it out now 1.My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;2.Coral is far more red than her lips' red;3.If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;4.If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.5.I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,6.But no such roses see I in her cheeks;7.And in some perfumes is there more delight8.Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.9.I love to hear her speak, yet well I know10.That music hath a far more pleasing sound;11.I grant I never saw a goddess go;12.My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground: THEN THE TURN OR VOLTA: 13.And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare14.As any she belied with false compare

18. Rhyme scheme. Get it? 1.My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; A2.Coral is far more red than her lips' red; B3.If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; A4.If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. B5.I have seen roses damask'd, red and white, C6.But no such roses see I in her cheeks; D7.And in some perfumes is there more delight C8.Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. D9.I love to hear her speak, yet well I know E10.That music hath a far more pleasing sound; F11.I grant I never saw a goddess go; E12.My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground: F 13.And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare G14.As any she belied with false compare G AB AB CD CD EF EF GG

19. Create a Sonnet and Perform it • Create a Shakespearean Sonnet • It should follow the appropriate rhyming scheme • Include the Volta • Use clever word play and puns- there is an element of showing off in many of these. • Tomorrow we shall perform them

20. Sonnets • Most sonnets use iambic pentameter • An iamb is a foot in a poem. Meaning that there is one unstressed followed by one stressed syllable. • Unstressed (u) and stressed (/)

21. Sonnets • Pentameter refers to the five feet that are in each line. (penta – five) • Iambic pentameter means that there are five feet in each line, which follow the unstressed/stressed pattern.