Reneissance sonnet by William Shakespeare

sonnet

1. What is a Sonnet?

2. Sonnet Form
A sonnet has 14 lines.
A sonnet must be written in iambic
pentameter.
A sonnet must follow a specific rhyme
scheme, depending on the type of sonnet.
A sonnet can be about any subject, though
they are often about love or nature.
A sonnet introduces a problem or question in
the beginning, and a resolution is offered
after the turn.

3. Italian Sonnet
An Italian Sonnet is also called a Petrarchan
Sonnet.
It includes an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six
lines).
The rhyme scheme must begin with abbaabba, and
can conclude with any variation of c, d, and e
(cdecde, cdcdee, etc.).
The turn (volta) in subject matter or response must
occur between the octave and the sestet.

4. London, 1802
Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour: A
England hath need of thee: she is a fen B
Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, B
Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower,A
Have forfeited their ancient English dower A
Of inward happiness. We are selfish men; B
Oh! raise us up, return to us again; B
And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power. A
Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart; C
Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:D
Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, D
So didst thou travel on life's common way, E
In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart C
The lowliest duties on herself did lay. E

5. Iambic Pentameter
IambicPentameterismadeupoftwowords,where
pentameterisacombinationof‘pent,’whichmeansfive,
and‘meter,’whichmeanstomeasure.
Iambic,ontheotherhand,isametricalfootinpoetryin
whichanunstressedsyllableisfollowedbyastressed
syllable.
Itmeansiambicpentameterisabeatorfootthatuses10
syllablesineachline.
Simply,itisarhythmicpatterncomprisingfiveiambsin
eachline,likefiveheartbeats.

6. Iambic pentameter is one of the most commonly used
meters in English poetry. For instance, in the excerpt,
“WhenIseebirchesbendtoleftandright/Acrossthe
lineofstraighterdarkerTrees…” (Birches, byRobert
Frost), each line contains five feet, and each foot uses
oneiamb.
THAT’SmylastDuchesspaintedonthewall,
Lookingasifshewerealive. Icall
Thatpieceawonder,now: FràPandolf’shands
Workedbusilyaday, andthereshestands…

7. English Sonnet
InEnglish,boththeEnglish(orShakespearean)sonnetandthe
ItalianPetrarchansonnetaretraditionallywritteniniambic
pentameter.
ThefirstknownsonnetsinEnglish,writtenbySirThomas
WyattandHenryHoward,EarlofSurrey,usedtheItalian,
Petrarchanform,asdidsonnetsbylaterEnglishpoets
AnEnglishSonnetisalsocalledaShakespeareanSonnet.
Itincludesthreequatrains(groupsoffourlines)andacouplet(two
lines).
Therhymeschemeisoftenababcdcdefefgg.
Theturniseitheraftereightlinesortenlines.

8. "Sonnet XXIX"
When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes, A
I all alone beweep my outcast state, B
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,A
And look upon myself and curse my fate, B
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, C
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,D
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope, C
With what I most enjoy contented least, D
Yet in these thoughts my self almost despising,E
Haply I think on thee, and then my state, F
(Like to the lark at break of day arising E
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's gate,F
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings,G
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.G

9. Spenserian Sonnet
Invented by Edmond Spencer
It includes three quatrains (12 lines) and a couplet.
The rhyme scheme is abab bcbc cdcd ee
The turn is the couplet.
Linked rhyme

10. "Sonnet LIV"
Of this World's theatre in which we stay, A
My love like the Spectator idly sits, B
Beholding me, that all the pageants play, A
Disguising diversely my troubled wits. B
Sometimes I joy when glad occasion fits, B
And mask in mirth like to a Comedy; C
Soon after when my joy to sorrow flits, B
I wail and make my woes a Tragedy. C
Yet she, beholding me with constant eye, C
Delights not in my mirth nor rues my smart; D
But when I laugh, she mocks: and when I cry C
She laughs and hardens evermore her heart. D
Whatthen can move her? If nor mirth nor moan,E
She is no woman, but a senseless stone. E