Sonnets ENG II
What is a sonnet? A sonnet is a 14-line poem. Shakespeare’s sonnets followed the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The first 12 lines are put into three groups of four lines. Each group of four lines is known as a quatrain. The last two lines are known as a rhyming couplet. Other sonnets followed other rhyme schemes. Italian sonnets, for example, follow the rhyme scheme ABBA ABBA CDCDCD. What is a sonnet?
Shakespeare’s sonnets are written in iambic pentameter Shakespeare’s sonnets are written in iambic pentameter. An iamb is made up of TWO syllables (sounds). One syllable is unstressed and the other is stressed. won-DER thurs-DAY happ-Y you TOO let’s GO Iambic Pentameter
Syllables A syllable is a unit of language consisting of one sound. Words are made up of syllables. Words can be one or more syllables. Examples: dog cat tree moon Examples: won-der (2) pic-ture (2) Thurs-day (2) Syllables
Iambic pentameter Five iambs put together. 10 total sounds/10 total syllables PER LINE Does not matter how many words there are i LIKE to EAT this ICE cream IN a BOWL fri-DAY is AL-most HERE i CAN-not WAIT ta-TUM ta-TUM ta-TUM ta-TUM ta-TUM Iambic pentameter
Try it Let me not to the marriage of two minds Admit impediment. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds. Or bends with the remover to remove Try it
Shall I Compare Thee? Read p. 574. Check the rhyme scheme and iambic pentameter. Shall I Compare Thee?