THE SONNET The TRUE form?

Sonnet 18 Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date. Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimmed; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimmed; But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st, Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade, When in eternal lines to Time thou grow'st. So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Who wrote that? Any guesses? Any guesses?

Another Sonnet How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. I shall but love thee better after death.

Who wrote that? Guesses? Guesses?

So what makes a sonnet “tick”? Rules: It must consist of 14 lines. Rules: It must consist of 14 lines. 10 syllables per line 10 syllables per line Has to rhyme Has to rhyme

Shakespearean? Iambic Pentameter Iambic Pentameter A B A B C D C D E F E F G G A B A B C D C D E F E F G G

ABAB Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date.

Why write one? Poets are attracted by the grace, concentration, and, yes, the sheer difficulty of sonnets. You may never write another sonnet in your life, but this exercise is more than just busywork. (Diaz, 11) Poets are attracted by the grace, concentration, and, yes, the sheer difficulty of sonnets. You may never write another sonnet in your life, but this exercise is more than just busywork. (Diaz, 11)

Feet? Much of English poetry is written in lines that string together one or more feet (individual rhythmical units). Feet are the individual building blocks of meter. Much of English poetry is written in lines that string together one or more feet (individual rhythmical units). Feet are the individual building blocks of meter.

Feet continued So the famous iambic pentameter is a string of five iambs, as in Christopher Marlowe's line from Dr. Faustus: So the famous iambic pentameter is a string of five iambs, as in Christopher Marlowe's line from Dr. Faustus: Was this the face that launched a thousand ships Was this the face that launched a thousand ships Duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH- duh-DUH

Independent Practice Try to write one line with 10 syllables. Try to write one line with 10 syllables. Duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH- duh-DUH Duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH- duh-DUH

Next Take the last word of that line, think of a word that rhymes and place it at the end of the third line. Take the last word of that line, think of a word that rhymes and place it at the end of the third line. Then think of a line again with 10 syllables. Then think of a line again with 10 syllables. Now, think of a brand new line for line two but still on topic. Now, think of a brand new line for line two but still on topic. Repeat Bullet Point 1 Repeat Bullet Point 1

You now have a quatrain Keep going… you need two more of these and a rhyming couplet. (Shakey version) Keep going… you need two more of these and a rhyming couplet. (Shakey version) Due next Wednesday (one week) to write one Due next Wednesday (one week) to write one