Transcript Slide 1

S
O
N
N
E
T
What
IS
A
SONNET?
~ The Basics of a Sonnet ~
What!?!
What!?!
-Understanding Iambic Pentameterda DUM | da DUM | da DUM | da DUM | da DUM
Meaning of Iambic:
Two syllables together is known as a foot. So in a
line of poetry | the cow | would be considered one
foot. Because when you say the words, the is
unstressed and cow is stressed, it can be
represented as da DUM. An unstressed/stressed
foot is known as an iamb.
That’s where the term iambic comes from.
-Understanding Iambic Pentameterda DUM | da DUM | da DUM | da DUM | da DUM
Meaning of Pentameter:
Pentameter is simply penta, which means 5,
meters. So a line of poetry written in pentameter
has 5 feet, or 5 sets of stressed and unstressed
syllables. In basic iambic pentameter, a line would
have 5 feet of iambs, which is an unstressed and
then a stressed syllable.
There you go!
-Exampleif YOU | would PUT | the KEY | inSIDE | the LOCK
da DUM | da DUM | da DUM | da DUM | da DUM
That’s the simplest way to define iambic pentameter.
Piece of Cake … Right?
-Shakespearean Rhyme SchemeThe Shakespearean Sonnet follows this rhyme scheme:
A
B
A
B
C
D
C
D
E
F
E
F
G
G
Rhyme
Rhyme
Rhyme
Rhyme
Rhyme
Rhyme
Rhyme
Rhyme
Rhyme
Rhyme
Rhyme
Rhyme
Rhyme
Rhyme
-Shakespearean Rhyme SchemeUnderstanding the Quatrains of a Sonnet:
A
B
A
B
C
D
C
D
E
F
E
F
G
G
>
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>
>
1st Quatrain: This should establish the subject, main theme, or main
metaphor of the sonnet.
2nd Quatrain: This should develop or complicate the sonnet’s theme.
Often some imaginative example is given.
3rd Quatrain: This should round off the sonnet’s theme. Sometimes
this is done by using a twist or conflict.
4th Quatrain: This should serve as a conclusion to the sonnet. This
often leaves the reader with an image of some sort.
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Shakespearean Sonnet #18
(sort of)
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
Nor shall death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest,
By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimmed;
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Shakespearean Sonnet #18
(for real)
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 owest,
Nor shall death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest.
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.