1. Shakespearean Sonnets and iambic pentameter

2. The Basics ► Stanza  Equal to a paragraph in prose writing ► Line  Equal to a sentence in prose writing ► The number of lines in a stanza could include:  Couplet (2)  Quatrain (4)  Sestet (6)  Octave (8) ► A Shakespearean Sonnet is 14 lines long:  3 Quatrains + 1 Couplet

3. Rhyme Scheme Quatrain 1- ABAB Quatrain 2- CDCD Quatrain 3- EFEF Couplet- GG ► All of the lines are end rhyme ► The couplet consists of a turn or shift in idea from the quatrains

4. Meter and Feet ► Meter  The rhythmic structure of a poem  Defined by the number of feet in a line ► Foot/Feet  The basic unit, building block, which helps create the rhythmic structure of a poem  Every pair (2) of syllables in a line of poetry is a foot  The type of foot depends on the stressed and unstressed accents of the syllables

5. Examples of Feet in a Line 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 I know/ the way/ to go/ is o/ver there/ I walked/ across/ the world/ to kiss/ your hand/ In Shakespearean sonnets, there are 5 feet in a line

6. Iambic Feet ► In Shakespearean sonnets, the type of feet are iambs ► Iambic feet are defined as one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable ► Iambic feet are represented with these markings: U / U / Unstressed Stressed *Note: there are other types of feet which include (/ U), ( / /), and (U U)

7. Examples of Iambic Feet U / U / U / U / U / U / U / U / U / U / I know/ the way/ to go/ is o/ver there/ U / U / U / U / U / U / U / U / U / U / I walked/ across/ the world/ to kiss/ your hand/ In Shakespearean sonnets, the feet are iambic feet

8. Iambic Pentameter ► Shakespearean sonnets are written in iambic pentameter ► Iambic pentameter has a “da dum da dum” rhythm and flow ► This is why Shakespeare’s poetry sounds so lovely ► Believe it or not, it is our natural speaking pattern (but try writing in it!)

9. How do we get iambic pentameter? ► If the rhythmic structure of the poem is determined by the meter, ► And meter is defined by number of feet, ► And feet are defined by type of syllables in the foot, then in Shakespearean sonnets there are…  5 (penta) feet in each line  The 5 feet are iambic feet ( U / ) ► Therefore, we have iambic pentameter

10. Try to mark the iambic pentameter on these famous Shakespearean lines: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day So foul and fair a day I have not seen But soft, what light through yonder window breaks