The SonnetThe Sonnet““Sonetto” meaning little Sonetto” meaning little sound or song in Italiansound or song in Italian

HistoryHistory First developed at the court of Emperor First developed at the court of Emperor

Frederick II in SicilyFrederick II in Sicily Used by most Italian poets of the Middle Used by most Italian poets of the Middle

Ages, notably Dante (13Ages, notably Dante (13thth Century) Century) Italian sonnets were often about courtly Italian sonnets were often about courtly

love, where the women were beautiful yet love, where the women were beautiful yet unattainableunattainable

Sir Thomas Wyatt and the Earl of Surry Sir Thomas Wyatt and the Earl of Surry discovered the form in the 16discovered the form in the 16thth Century Century

In England the form changed.In England the form changed. Edmund Spenser and William Shakespeare Edmund Spenser and William Shakespeare

coined their own versions.coined their own versions. Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnetsShakespeare wrote 154 sonnets

StyleStyle

Often the grammar of the lines is Often the grammar of the lines is fractured to accommodate the rhyme fractured to accommodate the rhyme and rhythm.and rhythm.

Enjambment works to help keep the Enjambment works to help keep the rhyme in the background.rhyme in the background.

The Shakespearean rhyme scheme The Shakespearean rhyme scheme tends to be the easiest for the tends to be the easiest for the English language.English language.

FormForm

14 lines long14 lines long Usually about loveUsually about love Often has a volta – a Often has a volta – a

change in thought – change in thought – after the eight lineafter the eight line

Three main Three main variations on the variations on the rhyme schemerhyme scheme– Petrarchan,Petrarchan,

Spenserian, Spenserian, ShakespeareanShakespearean

Usual form Usual form componentscomponents– Octave / octet = 8 Octave / octet = 8

lines lines and aand a– Sestet / sextet = 6 Sestet / sextet = 6

lines lines

oror– 3 Quatrains = 4 3 Quatrains = 4

lines eachlines each and aand a – Rhyming couplet = Rhyming couplet =

2 lines2 lines

PetrarchanPetrarchan SpenserianSpenserian ShakespeareanShakespearean

AA AA AABB BB BBBB AA AAAA BB BB

AA BB CCBB CC DDBB BB CCAA CC DD

CC CC EEDD DD FFCC/E/E CC EECC DD FFDD EE GGCC/E/E EE GG

Iambic foot or IambIambic foot or Iamb Is two syllablesIs two syllables An unstressed An unstressed

followed by a followed by a stressedstressed

Shown here using a Shown here using a dash and a dash and a backslashbackslash

There are five iambic There are five iambic feet in one line of a feet in one line of a sonnet = a rhythm sonnet = a rhythm called iambic called iambic pentameter.pentameter.

The Kennedy CenterThe Kennedy Center

An example of scansionAn example of scansion

To scan a line is to mark the stressed and To scan a line is to mark the stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. unstressed syllables in a line of poetry.

Scansion takes practice and patience. Scansion takes practice and patience. A dictionary is a good way to double check that A dictionary is a good way to double check that

you have it right.you have it right.

Sonnet CXVI/116 Sonnet CXVI/116 by by ShakespeareShakespeare

Let me not to the marriage of true Let me not to the marriage of true mindsmindsAdmit impediments. Love is not Admit impediments. Love is not loveloveWhich alters when it alteration Which alters when it alteration findsfinds,,Or bends with the remover to Or bends with the remover to removeremove..

O no! it is an ever-fixed O no! it is an ever-fixed markmarkThat looks on tempests and is never That looks on tempests and is never shakenshaken;;It is the star to every wand’ring It is the star to every wand’ring barkbark,,Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be takentaken..

Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheekscheeksWithin his bending sickle’s compass Within his bending sickle’s compass comecome;;Love alters not with his brief hours and Love alters not with his brief hours and weeksweeks,,But bears it out even to the edge of But bears it out even to the edge of doomdoom..

If this be error and upon me If this be error and upon me prov’dprov’d,,I never writ, nor no man ever I never writ, nor no man ever lov’dlov’d..

Listen to various sonnetsListen to various sonnets Why?Why? To show you how they To show you how they

can be read in different can be read in different ways.ways.

To share with you the To share with you the passion many feel for passion many feel for the form and content.the form and content.

Check out sonnets on Check out sonnets on YouTube – you’ll be YouTube – you’ll be amazed at the number amazed at the number and variety of people and variety of people who’ve chosen to post who’ve chosen to post videos.videos.

Notebook file “sonnets”Notebook file “sonnets”

Your SonnetYour Sonnet Should have the following elementsShould have the following elements

– 14 lines14 lines– 10 syllables per line10 syllables per line– A rhyme scheme that matches one of A rhyme scheme that matches one of

those presentedthose presented May haveMay have

– The iambic rhythm, but does not need The iambic rhythm, but does not need to.to.

– A voltaA volta

Whoso List to Hunt Whoso List to Hunt [1][1] Sir Thomas Sir Thomas

Wyatt the ElderWyatt the Elder

Whoso listWhoso list[2][2] to hunt, I know where is an to hunt, I know where is an hindhind,,

But as for me, alas, I may no But as for me, alas, I may no moremore..The vain travail hath wearied me so The vain travail hath wearied me so soresoreI am of them that farthest cometh I am of them that farthest cometh behindbehind..Yet may I, by no means, my wearied Yet may I, by no means, my wearied mindmindDraw from the deer, but as she fleeth Draw from the deer, but as she fleeth

aforeafore,,Fainting I follow. I leave off Fainting I follow. I leave off thereforetherefore,,Since in a net I seek to hold the Since in a net I seek to hold the windwind..Who list her hunt, I put him out of Who list her hunt, I put him out of doubtdoubt,,As well as I, may spend his time in As well as I, may spend his time in vainvain..And graven with diamonds in letters And graven with diamonds in letters plainplainThere is written, her fair neck round There is written, her fair neck round aboutabout““Noli me tangereNoli me tangere, for Caesar’s I , for Caesar’s I amam,,And wild for to hold, though I seem And wild for to hold, though I seem tametame.”.”

[1][1]An adaptation of An adaptation of Petrarch, Rim 190, Petrarch, Rim 190, perhaps influenced perhaps influenced by commentators by commentators on Petrarch, who on Petrarch, who said that Noli me said that Noli me tangere quia tangere quia Caesaris sum Caesaris sum (“Touch me not, for (“Touch me not, for I am Caesar’s”) I am Caesar’s”) was inscribed on was inscribed on the collars of the collars of Caesar’s hinds Caesar’s hinds which were then which were then set free and were set free and were presumably safe presumably safe from hunters. from hunters. Wyatt’s sonnet is Wyatt’s sonnet is usually supposed usually supposed to refer to Anne to refer to Anne Boleyn, in whom Boleyn, in whom Henry VIII became Henry VIII became interested in 1536.interested in 1536.

[2]Cares[2]Cares

SourcesSources

The Kennedy Center, “Shakespeare: The Kennedy Center, “Shakespeare: Iambic Pentameter, the Beat of the Iambic Pentameter, the Beat of the 16th Century16th Century”, accessed Nov 25, ”, accessed Nov 25, 2008. 2008. http://ca.youtube.com/watch?http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec_pDV07pQg&feature=relatev=Ec_pDV07pQg&feature=relatedd

Handouts from previous teachers, Handouts from previous teachers, Ms. Isaacs or Ms. Riddel.Ms. Isaacs or Ms. Riddel.