What is a Sonnet?

1. What is a Sonnet? UNDERSTANDING THE FORMS, METER, RHYME, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE SONNET MARCH 20, 2012

2. Sonnet Form • A Sonnet has 14 lines • Must be written in iambic pentameter • Each line has 10 syllables (or beats) • They alternate in an unstressed/ stressed pattern • A sonnet must follow a specific rhyme scheme, depending on the type of sonnet. • Can be about any subject, though they are usually about love or nature. • Introduces a problem or question in the beginning, and a resolution is revealed or suggested after the “turn”. • The point in the sonnet where the poet changes perspective • Often caused by a “change of heart”

3. Iambic Pentameter: Stress & Meter • Consider the sound of the underlined word: • 1.) Darth Vader decided to crush rebel forces • 2.) Luke Skywalker will rebel against his father’s wishes • Even though rebel is spelled the same, the stress sound makes it different. • When we talk, we stress some syllables and leave others “unstressed”. • Stressed= Syllables with “long” or “heavy” stress • Unstressed= Syllables with “short” or “light” stress

4. Stress & Meter • In example #1 the pattern of the word rebel is “stressed” then “unstressed” • DARTH Vader deCIDed to CRUSH the REBel SOLDier. • In example #2 the pattern of the word rebel is “unstressed” then “stressed” • LUKE SKYWALKer WILL reBEL aGAINST his FATHer’s WISHes. • When a poem has a recognizable but varying pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables, the poetry is written in verse.

5. Italian Sonnet • Introduced in the 13th Century, means “little song” • Also called a Petrarchan Sonnet after Francesco Petrarch • Most of his sonnets are about love, specifically love from afar • Emotionally powerful through the use of metaphors • 14-line lyric poem: Contains an octave (8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines) • The turn generally occurs after the octave. • The rhyme scheme must begin with abbaabba, and end with either cdcdcd OR cdecde

6. Sonnet 90By: Francesco Petrarch Upon the breeze she spread her golden hair That in a thousand gentle knots was turned, And the sweet light beyond all measure burned In eyes where now that radius is rare; And in her face there seemed to come an air Of pity, true or false, that I discerned: I had love’s tinder in my breast unburned, Was it a wonder if it kindled there? She moved not like a mortal, but as though She bore an angel’s form, her words had then A sound that simple human voices lack; A heavenly spirit, a living sun Was what I saw; now, if it is not so, The wound’s not healed because the bow grows slack

7. Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374) • 1.) Read P. 334 & 335 for more background information on Francesco Petrarch, one of the most famous Italian sonnet writers Take notes on: • Biographical/ Cultural Background info • 1. Ex. Composed over 300 poems to a woman whom he never had a relationship with. His Petrarchan Sonnets immortalized her. • 2. • 3. • 4. • 5. • 6. • 2.) Read “Sonnet 292” and answer questions #1-6 on P. 338.

8. Edmund Spenser (1552-1599) • The Spenserian Sonnet • Three quatrains (3 groups of four-lines) • Each quatrain addresses the poem’s central idea, thought, or question • The couplet provides the answer • Variation on the English Sonnet • Ends in a rhyming couplet (2 rhyming lines) • Rhyme Scheme: abab bcbc cdcd ee

9. Edmund Spenser (1552-1599) • 1.) Read P. 318 & 319 for more background information on Edmund Spencer • Biographical/ Cultural Background info • 1. • 2. • 3. • 4. • 5. • 6. • 2.) Read “Sonnet 30” and “Sonnet 75”

10. Spenserean Sonnets • 2.) Read “Sonnet 30” and “Sonnet 75” on P. 320-321 • Create a chart as you read similar to the example on P. 319. • Ex. “Sonnet 75”

11. English vs. Italian • English (Petrarchan) Italian

12. English Sonnet or Italian Sonnet? I find no peace, and have no arms for war, 
and fear and hope, and burn and yet I freeze, 
and fly to heaven, lying on earth's floor, 
and nothing hold, and all the world I seize. My jailer opens not, nor locks the door, 
nor binds me to hear, nor will loose my ties; 
Love kills me not, nor breaks the chains I wear, 
nor wants me living, nor will grant me ease. I have no tongue, and shout; eyeless, I see;
I long to perish, and I beg for aid;
I love another, and myself I hate. Weeping I laugh, I feed on misery,
by death and life so equally dismayed:
for you, my lady, am I in this state.

13. English Sonnet or Italian Sonnet? Lines are in the octave (8 lines) and the sestet (6 lines) I find no peace, and have no arms for war, 
and fear and hope, and burn and yet I freeze, 
and fly to heaven, lying on earth's floor, 
and nothing hold, and all the world I seize. My jailer opens not, nor locks the door, 
nor binds me to hear, nor will loose my ties; 
Love kills me not, nor breaks the chains I wear, 
nor wants me living, nor will grant me ease. I have no tongue, and shout; eyeless, I see;
I long to perish, and I beg for aid;
I love another, and myself I hate. Weeping I laugh, I feed on misery,
by death and life so equally dismayed:
for you, my lady, am I in this state.

14. English Sonnets • AKA Shakespearean Sonnet • Three quatrains (3 groups of four-lines) and ends in a rhyming couplet (2 lines) • Rhyme Scheme: abab cdcd efef gg • The turn is either after 8 lines or 10 lines. • Example: P. 326 Sonnet 18 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZbAic4R83U

15. 1.) Create a Venn Diagram to Compare and Contrast Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18” with Spencer’s “Sonnet 75” (P. 321) Take notes about: • How does each promise to immortalize his beloved? • How is each speaker’s promise connected to the imagry of the poem? • Is it ironic that in each sonnet the speaker doesn’t actually name their beloved?

16. William Shakespeare 1564-1616 • Humble Beginnings: born in Stratford-upon-Avon • Known as “the Bard” • Attended Stratford Grammar School until he was 14 • Then he married Anne Hathaway and entered the “lost years”. • Wrote about 37 plays and 154 sonnets • Shakespeare’s sonnets all featured a male speaker and focused on the theme of love. Other common themes: time, death, and poetry itself.

17. More about Shakespeare! • Left his family to arrive in London and joined the theater company, Lord Chamberlain’s Men. • Earned his money by doing the following: • 1.) Part owner of the Globe Theater • 2.) An Actor • 3.) A Playwright • Generally wrote 3 types of plays: • 1.) Tragedy- Ex. Romeo & Juliet • 2.) Comedy- Ex. The Taming of the Shrew • 3.) Historical- Ex. Henry VIII

18. Shakespearean Sonnets Recap • Shakespearean sonnets were divided into three quatrains and one couplet. • Shakespearean sonnets featured a turn, or volta, often around lines 9-11. • The rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet was abab cdcd efef gg • The English sonnet, or Shakespearean sonnet, featured 14 lines of iambic pentameter

19. The Globe Theater • Roofless= Open Air • No Artificial Lighting • Plays were performed in the afternoon to take advantage of the sunlight. • Plays were written/produced for the general audience • Courtyard surrounded by 3 levels of galleries • Spectators: • Wealthy- got benches • “Groundlings”- poorer people stood and watched from the ground (the pit) • All except for the wealthy were uneducated/ poor • Burned down during a production of Henry VIII in 1613. Rebuilt the following year.

20. The Globe Theater • Differences to today’s theater productions: • No Scenery • Settings were all referenced through dialogue • Elaborate Costumes • Plenty of props • Fast-paced productions • Only MALE actors would perform

21. “Shakespeare in Love” • Most characters in the film are based off of real people • Ned and the Admirals Men • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg_6JZLUrRc • John Webster - went on to become a well-known playwright himself in which gore plays a prominent part. • Christopher Marlowe • A writer who offered a great deal of competition to Shakespeare’s plays. Marlowe's early, untimely death opened up the scene for Shakespeare. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foOquPn1L60

22. “Shakespeare in Love” • Henslowe and other producers hired playwrights to write their plays. • Censorship: The Master of the Revels • power to censor writing & what content appeared on the stage • In the 1590s this was a man called Edmund Tilney • The Plague • It was immoral for a woman to appear on the stage • Alternate Ending • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxxw5bBKvUo • Do you think that there really was a muse such as Viola for all of Shakespeare’s works? • In the film, do you think that Viola’s boat really sank? Or was he just writing his next play as it appears in the deleted scene?

23. Key Terms to Know! • Iambic Pentameter • Meter • Rhyme Scheme • Couplet • Petrarchan Sonnet • Shakespearean Sonnet • Octave • Sestet

24. In-Class Activity • With a Partner (or on your own if you rather) read the four sonnets on pp. 326-330 and respond to each using the organizer on the board. • For only ONE of the 4 sonnets do the following (instead of the organizer): • Write the complete text of the sonnet • Number each line of the sonnet in the margin. On the other side, note the rhyme scheme after every line. • Dissect the iambic pentameter (10 syllables) for one of the quatrains • Indicate where the VOLTA is • List any themes after reading the sonnet • Answer questions #1-9 on p. 332 on the back. This is due Wednesday for an assignment grade.

25. Sonnet Organizer

26. Hallmarkean Sonnet Card- Honors • Create a “Hallmarkean” sonnet card that demonstrates your knowledge of sonnet structure. • Turn this in by Friday, April 12th for a Quiz grade • Requirements: • 14 line sonnet: 3 quatrains that introduce and extend the poem’s meaning • 1 couplet that either summarizes or concludes the poem • You will also be graded on your creativity and artwork

27. Hallmarkean Sonnet Grade Rubric