1. Revised 2004© Copyright. Academic Year 2004-2005, by M. Chavez. (http://www.mschavez.org) British Literature Class Notes Shakespearean Sonnets

2. About SONNETS  Sonnet A lyric poem which contains 14 lines written in iambic pentameter form. Shakesperean Sonnet  Octave (first 8 lines) presents a situation, attitude, or problem  Sestet (last 6 lines) comments upon or resolves the problem, situation or attitude posed in the octave  Couplet - (last 2 lines) Contains a thought or complete idea about the topic. Contains 2 rhyming lines.

3. About SONNETS  Functions of OCTAVES and SESTETS Octave- presents a situation, attitude, or problem Sestet comments upon or resolves the problem, situation or attitude posed in the octave

4. Sonnet Definitions Iambic Foot - Consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. Iambic foot is usually depicted with these symbols: Iambic Pentameter A line of verse with five feet is known as pentameter (Greek penta, "five").versefeet Five feet in each verse, each containing an iamb (the second of two syllables stressed). iamb Meter - The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables or the units of stress pattern.

5. Sonnet Definitions Couplet - A pair of rhymed lines (of any length or rhythm). Rhyme Scheme - The pattern of rhymed words. Stanzas are often linked by their rhyme scheme. Rhyme scheme is lacking in some modern poetry.

6. Scansion - The process of measuring verse, that is, of marking accented and unaccented syllables, dividing the lines into feet, identifying the metrical pattern, and noting significant variations from that pattern. Stress - A term applied to the emphasis placed on a syllable in a word. A synonym for stress is "accent." Verse - A single line of poetry

7. Sonnet #12 Explained When I do count the clock that tells the time, And see the brave day sunk in hideous night; When I behold the violet past prime, And sable curls, all silvered o'er with white; When lofty trees I see barren of leaves, Which erst from heat did canopy the herd, And summer's green all girded up in sheaves, Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard, Then of thy beauty do I question make, That thou among the wastes of time must go, Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake And die as fast as they see others grow; And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence. ABABCDCDEFEFGGABABCDCDEFEFGG Rhyme Scheme OCTAVEOCTAVE SESTETSESTET Couplet