The Line The poetic line is measured by the number of feet it contains.

Meter Lengths 1 footMonometer 2 feetDimeter 3 feetTrimeter 4 feetTetrameter 5 feetPentameter 6 feetHexameter 7 feetHeptameter 8 feetOctameter 9 feetNonometer 10 feetDecameter

Write out the poetic markings for Dactylic trimeter Anapestic dimeter Spondaic monometer Trochaic tetrameter

Dactylic trimeter

Anapestic dimeter

Spondaic monometer

Trochaic tetrameter

So what is “iambic pentameter”? The “iambic” part tells us the pattern. Unstressed syllables followed by stressed syllables. The “pentameter” part tells us how many iambs will be in the line. Penta means five, so five iambs of two syllables each for a total of 10 syllables.

JOURNAL What is the purpose of poetry? What are the advantages of poetry over prose? What are the disadvantages, if any?

SONNETS

Origins Italian “sonetto” – “a little sound or song” Francesco Petrarch ( ) Wrote hundreds of poems about a woman named Laura DeNoves. Sonnets focus on a particular theme

Sonnet Length and Meter 14 lines iambic pentameter –Each line has 5 metric units or “feet” –iambic foot = unstressed syllable (U) followed by a stressed syllable (/). 1 iambic foot = U / U / U / U / U / U / Ex: My love is like to ice, and I to fire;

Form Differences Sonnet forms can be differentiated by rhyme schemes and stanzas: –Italian (Petrarchan) Sonnet ABBAABBA *CDECDE (or CDCDCD) –English (Shakespearean) Sonnet ABAB *CDCD *EFEF *GG –Spenserian Sonnet ABAB *BCBC *CDCD *EE

The Italian Sonnet Often called the Petrarchan sonnet unrequited love a common topic for this form Octave (first 8 lines): presents a problem Sestet (last 6 lines): provides an answer or resolution to the problem Stanzas and Rhyme scheme –octave: abbaabba –sestet: cdecde or cdcdcd

Sonnet XII by Francesco Petrarch If my life find strength enough to fight the grievous battle of each passing day, that I may meet your gaze, years from today, lady, when your eyes have lost their light octave: and when your golden curls have turned to white, problem and vanished are your wreaths and green array, and when your youthful hue has fled away, whose beauty make me tremble in its sight, perhaps then love will overcome my fears Turn enough that I may let my secret rise and tell you what I’ve suffered all these years; sestet: and if no flame be kindled in your eyes, resolution at least I may be granted for my tears the comfort of a few belated sighs.

The English Sonnet Also called the Shakespearean sonnet 3 quatrains (4 lines) –rhyme scheme: abab cdcd efef –question raised/problem presented 1 couplet –rhyme scheme: gg allows for a more detailed development of the question or problem demands a quick solution in the couplet

Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, Problem: And look upon myself and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featur’d 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 Turn From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate, Solution For thy sweet love rememb’red such wealth brings That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Spenserian Sonnet Created by Sir Edmund Spencer 3 Quatrains 1 Couplet Rhyme scheme: abab bcbc cdcd ee Interlocking rhyme scheme “pushes” the sonnet toward the final couplet Couplet: key point or comment

Literary Techniques Alliteration: repeating beginning word sounds. Ex: Fred’s Free Fresh Fries Symbolism: –Metaphor: comparing two unlike things –Simile: comparing two unlike things with the words “like” or “as” –Personification: assigning human characteristics to a non-human object

Allusion: reference to a person, place, or event of history or legend; reference to a previously published work of literature. Ex: You’re like Katniss when it comes to archery. (this is an allusion to the Hunger Games) Enjambment: the running over of sentence from one line of verse to another. Ex: I’ll look to like if looking liking move. End stop line: A complete sentence contained in one line of verse. Ex: I’ll look to like if looking liking move.

JOURNAL What are some personal and societal benefits to reading and writing poetry? What can they help or teach an individual? What do they bring to society?

JOURNAL In your opinion, what is the overall theme and message of Spencer’s sonnet 26. How do you know this? Provide evidence.

JOURNAL How did you choose the subject of your sonnet? Why did you choose that topic? What was the most challenging thing about writing a sonnet? Why? Compare the sonnet to other types of poetry. What were its strengths? Weaknesses?

JOURNAL What of these poetic devices do you most like to read/use? Why? Which do you least like to read/use? Why? Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, Oxymoron, Paradox, Allusion

Journal – The Couplet You can say a lot with a little. Observe, my favorite couplet: Time is the school in which we learn Time is the fire in which we burn. 1. Interpret this couplet. What do you think it means? 2. Write an inspired, powerful couplet that has a lot of meaning to you.

Consonance Consonance is a poetic device characterized by the repetition of the same consonant two or more times in short succession. –Ex: pitter patter –Ex: all mammals named Sam are clammy

Assonance The repetition of vowel sounds –Ex: Poetry is old, ancient, goes back far. It is among the oldest of living things. So old it is that no man knows how and why the first poems came.

Paradox Self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true. –Ex: You can save money by spending it. –Ex: Men work together whether they work together or apart. - Robert Frost –Ex: Be cruel to be kind –Ex: A rich man is no richer than a poor man. –Ex: Nobody goes to that restaurant because it is too crowded.

Oxymoron A combination of two opposite words. –Ex: Deafening Silence. –Ex: Jumbo Shrimp –Ex: Clearly Confused –Walking Dead

Mood feelings or vibes from the author’s words and descriptions. Usually, mood is referred to as the atmosphere of a literary piece, as it creates an emotional situation that surrounds the readers.

Mood Example For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side Of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride, In her sepulcher there by the sea— In her tomb by the sounding sea.

SWEET is the Rose, but grows upon a briar; Sweet is the Juniper, but sharp his bough; sweet is the Eglantine, but pricketh near; sweet is the fir bloom, but his branches rough Sweet is the Cypress, but his rind is tough, sweet is the nut, but bitter is his pill; sweet is the broom-flower, but yet sour enough; and sweet is Moly, but his root is ill. So every sweet with sour is tempered still, that maketh it be coveted the more: for easy things that may be got at will, most sorts of men do set but little store. Why then should I account of little pain, that endless pleasure shall unto me gain.