1. The Sonnet Poetic structure, puzzles, and genius – all in the name of love

2. Definition and origin - 14 line poem written in iambic pentameter with a particular rhyme scheme. The subject is usually some aspect of human love. - origin is 13 th century Italy - sonetto – means “little sound” or “little song”

3. Petrarch - 14 th Century Italian sonneteer - produced most important group of sonnets - wrote 366 poems in his career/ 317 of which were true sonnets - all to Laura - all to no avail; she spurns him - Wyatt introduces Italian sonnet to England in (early 1500’s)

4. Sir Philip Sidney (check out turtleneck in text, 234) - Astrophel and Stella 1580’s (pub.1591) - 1 st great English sonnet sequence - started “sonnet vogue” in England - Stella was Penelope Devereaux - 13 years old when Sidney meets her - all for naught; she marries Lord Rich (and he was)

5. Sonnet Groups Organize into 5 groups (4 or 5 per group) 1. Perform 2. Solve the puzzle 3. Demonstrate the meter 4. Identify the rhyme scheme of the sonnet (Petrarchan, Spenserian, or Shakespearean) 5. What is the conclusive statement regarding love?

6. The 2012 Sonnet Challenge Write a sonnet

7. Details (sorry) Must conform to all 4 aspects of sonnet form – length, meter, rhyme (must be one of three rhymes learned), and subject. Sonnet must be turned in Monday, November 19, during the period we meet. No exceptions. No leeway – all judge’s decisions are infallible, inevitable, and incisive.

8. Sonnet Fever Central sonnet theme – Love, often unrequited. Sometimes musings on the nature of true love and sometimes on the beauty and grace of the woman the poet loves ( + “strange love”) - the sonnet “game” --- solve the puzzle presented by the poet (What is he saying about love or the woman he loves?) and take note of and enjoy the rhythm and rhyme of the sonnet

9. Sonnet Types 1. Italian or Petrarchan octave + sestet abbaabba + cdecde or abababab + cdcdcd ^ volta 2. Spenserian quatrain + quatrain + quatrain + couplet abab + bcbc + cdcd + ee ^ 3. Shakesperian abab + cdcd + efef + gg ^ ^ turn volta

10. Practice Sonnets Sonnet 31 (239) Sonnet 39 (240) Sonnet 1 (236) Sonnet 35 (237) Sonnet 75 (238) 1. Perform – 2 0nly! 2. Solve the puzzle 3. Demonstrate meter 4. Identify type 5. What does the sonnet say about love? What’s its conclusion?