Lesson 2 Sonnet S tructure & Iambic - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Lesson 2Sonnet Structure & Iambic Pentameter

Purpose

-to examine the structure of a sonnet

-analyze sonnetSlide2

What is a sonnet? ReviewSonnet:

14 line poem that rhymes in a certain pattern

A

sonnet is a poem made up of three quatrains (in iambic

pentameter)

followed by a concluding couplet. It has a total of 14 lines with a rhyme scheme of

abab

,

cdcd

,

efef

,

gg

.Slide3

Shakespeare’s Sonnets

Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets.

His sonnets are numbered, not titled.

All are in iambic pentameter

. Slide4

Shakespeare’s Sonnets

Most of Shakespeare’s sonnets are speaking to a handsome young lord.

Shakespeare advises and praises him.

The other sonnets are speaking to or about Shakespeare’s mistress.

She also became the young lord’s mistress. She is also referred to as a “dark lady,” meaning that her features (hair, eyes) are dark. Slide5

What goes in a sonnet? Review

Quatrain: 4 lines grouped together

by a certain rhyme pattern

Couplet: 2 lines that rhyme

Quatrain

A quatrain is four lines of verse with this rhyme scheme: A-B-A-B, meaning that the first and third, and second and fourth lines rhyme

.

The QUATRAINS of the English sonnet present an

idea

,

problem

, or

story

. Slide6

What goes in a sonnet? ReviewRhyming Couplet

A couplet is two lines of verse that rhyme. To borrow from the example above, the lines would have an "A-A" rhyme scheme

.

The COUPLET either

summarizes the sonnets

or

gives surprise ending. Slide7

English Sonnet

Abab

cdcd

efef

gg

Quatrain

Quatrain

Quatrain

Couplet Slide8

Iambic Pentameter

Each line of a sonnet has

ten

syllables.

Each line also has a certain rhythm, called iambic pentameter.

. Slide9

Iambic Pentameter

Iambic pentameter is made of

5

sets of

unstressed

and

stressed

syllables.

(i.e. U S U S U S U S U S)

STRESSED SYLLABLES are

emphasized

when spoken.Slide10

Iambic Pentameter

Stressed syllables are marked with

Unstressed syllables are marked with Slide11

Iambic Pentameter

Mark iambic pentameter for the following line:

Two households both alike in dignity Slide12

In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes,

For they in thee a thousand errors note;

But 'tis my heart that loves what they despise,

Who in despite of view is pleased to dote;Slide13

Things to Look for when Reading a Sonnet

Rhyme scheme

abab

cdcd

efef

gg

quatrains and couplet

Form

Meaning

Iambic pentameter

10 syllables per line

Alternating unstressed and stressed syllable Slide14

Sonnet 29

When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,

I all alone

beweep

my outcast state

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries

And look upon myself and curse my fate,

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

Featured like him, like him with friends

possess'd

,

Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,

With what I most enjoy contented least;

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

Like to the lark at break of day arising

From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;

For thy sweet love

remember'd such wealth bringsThat then I scorn to change my state with kings.Slide15

Sonnet 29 - Modern

When I’m in disgrace with everyone and my luck has deserted me, I sit all alone and cry about the fact that I’m an outcast, and bother God with useless cries, which fall on deaf ears, and look at myself and curse my fate, wishing that I had more to hope for, wishing I had this man’s good looks and that man’s friends, this man’s skills and that man’s opportunities, and totally dissatisfied with the things I usually enjoy the most. Yet, as I’m thinking these thoughts and almost hating myself, I happen to think about you, and then my condition improves—like a lark at daybreak rising up and leaving the earth far behind to sing hymns to God. For when I remember your sweet love, I feel so wealthy that I’d refuse to change places even with kings.