The Sonnets

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The Sonnets
Writing poetry without a rhyme is like playing
tennis without a net paraphrase by Robert Frost
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Features of a Sonnet

• Italian origin The word sonnet comes from
  Italian sonetto, meaning "little sound" or
  "little song."
• Lyric poems
• 14 lines
• Each line has 10 syllables (Iambic Pentameter)
• Use of conceits a metaphor that the poet usually
  extends and elaborates throughout the course of
  his poem.
• Poets chronicled stories of unrequited love in
  sonnet sequences, which were many sonnets tied
  together with the thread of narrative

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There are two types of Sonnets
The Italian
The English
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The Italian Sonnet

• Made famous by Francesco Petrarch (14th Century)
• Most of Petrarchs poetry dealt with unrequited
  love
• Filled with metaphors, oxymorons, and structured
  meter

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Elements of a Petrachan Sonnet

• Rhyme Scheme
• abbaabba cdcdcd
• Octave
• the first eight lines
• Sestet
• the last six lines
• Volta
• the turning point

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The Octave

• The Octave is the first eight lines of a
  Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet. This section of the
  poem sets up a problem, or asks a question. It
  is the introduction of the poem and prepares the
  reader for what is to come.

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The Sestet

• The Sestet is the last six lines of a Petrarchan
  (Italian) Sonnet. This section of the poem often
  gives a surprising answer to the question posed
  by the Octave. It is the conclusion of the poem,
  or the punchline.

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The Volta

• The Volta is the ninth line of a Petrachan
  Sonnet. It is the transition from the Octave to
  the Sestet and is the turning point of the poem.
  The Volta often contains a surprising turn of
  events that catches the reader off guard.

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The English Sonnet

• Made famous by William Shakespeare
• Many of his poems deal with love, but some deal
  with serious issues like death and old age
• Uses structured meter, extended metaphors, and
  alliteration

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Elements of a Shakespearean Sonnet

• Rhyme Scheme
• abab cdcd efef gg
• The quatrain
• -four line stanza
• The couplet
• -two rhyming lines at the end of the poem

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The Quatrain

• There are four quatrains in a Shakespearean
  sonnet. Each one follows an abab rhyme scheme.

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Lets Play.

• The Sonnet Game

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•  .

XVIII - Example of A Shakespearian Sonnet
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Example of a Petrarchan Sonnet

• If thou must love me, let it be for nought
• Except for loves sake only. Do not say
• I love her for her smile her look her way
• Of speaking gently, - for a trick of thought
• That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
• A sense of pleasant ease on such a day -
• For these things in themselves, Belovéd, may
• Be changed. Or change for thee,
• -and love, so wrought
• May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
• Thine own dear pitys wiping my cheeks dry, -
• A creature might forget to weep, who bore
• Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
• But love me for loves sake, that evermore
• Thou mayest love on, through loves eternity.

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The End