An Introduction to Sonnets English 9C Kristi Stuckey Lake Shore High School

What is a sonnet? Sonnets are poems that meet the following rules: All sonnets are 14 lines long. Sonnets in English are written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has 10 syllables, alternating in an unstressed/stressed pattern. Sonnets follow a predetermined rhyme scheme; the rhyme pattern determines if the sonnet is Petrarchan (Italian) or Shakespearean (English). A sonnet introduces a problem or question in the beginning, and a resolution is offered after the turn or shift. A sonnet can be about any subject, though they are often about love or nature.

Iambic Pentameter

What is a sonnet? Sonnets are poems that meet the following rules: All sonnets are 14 lines long. Sonnets in English are written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has 10 syllables, alternating in an unstressed/stressed pattern. Sonnets follow a predetermined rhyme scheme; the rhyme pattern determines if the sonnet is Petrarchan (Italian) or Shakespearean (English). A sonnet introduces a problem or question in the beginning, and a resolution is offered after the turn or shift. A sonnet can be about any subject, though they are often about love or nature.

Let’s Mark Up a Rhyme Scheme Love Is Not All by Edna St. Vincent Millay Love is not all: It is not meat nor drink Nor slumber nor a roof against the rain, Nor yet a floating spar to men that sink and rise and sink and rise and sink again. Love cannot fill the thickened lung with breath Nor clean the blood, nor set the fractured bone; Yet many a man is making friends with death even as I speak, for lack of love alone. It well may be that in a difficult hour, pinned down by need and moaning for release or nagged by want past resolution's power, I might be driven to sell your love for peace, Or trade the memory of this night for food. It may well be. I do not think I would. Love Is Not All by Edna St. Vincent Millay A B C D E F G

What is a sonnet? Sonnets are poems that meet the following rules: All sonnets are 14 lines long. Sonnets in English are written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has 10 syllables, alternating in an unstressed/stressed pattern. Sonnets follow a predetermined rhyme scheme; the rhyme pattern determines if the sonnet is Petrarchan (Italian) or Shakespearean (English). A sonnet introduces a problem or question in the beginning, and a resolution is offered after the turn. A sonnet can be about any subject, though they are often about love or nature.

The two major sonnet forms: Petrarchan (Italian) A B A Octave (8 lines) A The TURN C D E C Sestet (6 lines) Shakespearean A B C D C 3 quatrains (4 lines) E F The TURN F G Rhyming G Couplet

What is a sonnet? Sonnets are poems that meet the following rules: All sonnets are 14 lines long. Sonnets in English are written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has 10 syllables, alternating in an unstressed/stressed pattern. Sonnets follow a predetermined rhyme scheme; the rhyme pattern determines if the sonnet is Petrarchan (Italian) or Shakespearean (English). A sonnet introduces a problem or question in the beginning, and a resolution is offered after the turn. A sonnet can be about any subject, though they are often about love or nature.

The Turn of the Sonnet A sonnet’s turn is the point in the sonnet where the poet changes perspective or alters his/her approach to description. This often results in a sonnet following a “position-contrasting position” type of structure, or occasionally a “change of heart” in the poet at the end of the verse. Look at this sonnet as an example: Sonnet 130 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

Now Let’s Paraphrase 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 My girls eyes are not as bright as the sun Her lips are not as red as coral Pale skin is preferred, why then does my girl have a tan My girl’s hair style is all kinds of messed up I’ve seen other girls who know how to apply blush But my girl needs a makeup lesson And I would rather smell perfume Than my girl’s stinky breath I love to hear my girl speak, but I know That music would sound a lot better My girl is not goddess when she walks down the hall My girl stomps when she walks And yet by heaven my girl is one of a kind She’s ugly, but she’s MY ugly.

Analyze this! Sonnet On a new piece of paper, do the following: Paraphrase each of the 14 lines. Note the line numbers that contain the shift. Explain the theme of the poem. Write whether the sonnet is Petrarchan or Shakespearean. When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon my self and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featured like him, like him with friends possessed, Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least, Yet in these thoughts my self almost despising, Haply I think on thee, and then my state, (Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's gate,  For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings, That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Let’s Watch It

Analyze this! Sonnet On a new piece of paper, do the following: Paraphrase each of the 14 lines. Note the line numbers that contain the shift. Explain the theme of the poem. Write whether the sonnet is Petrarchan or Shakespearean. When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon my self and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featured like him, like him with friends possessed, Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least, Yet in these thoughts my self almost despising, Haply I think on thee, and then my state, (Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's gate,  For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings, That then I scorn to change my state with kings.