Understanding Language and the Sonnet Shakespeare Understanding Language and the Sonnet

The Language of Shakespeare Most students don’t realize this at first, but he’s writing in English!  Sure, the language can be a little daunting at times; however, there are numerous “tricks” to help decipher the meaning of a line. Here are a few ways to make some sense of the word on the page…

Language While modern English has eliminated a set of pronouns and verbs used for “familiar” relationships, these old forms existed in Elizabethan England and appear frequently in Shakespeare. Follow along on your “Language Guide” for tricks to help unlock meaning.

Language Singular Plural 1st 2nd 3rd Subject I Thou He/she/it We Ye They Object Me Thee Him/her/it Us You Them Possessive Adjective My, mine Thy, thine His/hers/its Our Your Their Possessive Pronoun Mine Thine theirs

Language Present tense current English You Are Have Will Can Shall Do Present tense Shakespeare Thou Hast Wilt Canst Shalt Dost Past tense current English Were Had Would Could Should Did Past tense Shakespeare Wast Hadst Wouldst Couldst Shouldst didst

The Sonnet A Poetic Overview

The Sonnet The word “sonnet” comes from the Italian word sonnetto, meaning “little song.” A sonnet is a lyric poem that almost always consists of fourteen lines (usually printed as a single stanza) and that typically follows one of several conventional rhyme schemes. Sonnets may address a range of issues or themes, but love, the original subject of the sonnet, is perhaps still the most common.

The Sonnet Due to the rigid rules concerning rhyme and rhythm, (good) sonnets are considered one of the more challenging poetic forms. Two major types of sonnets exist: the Italian (or Petrarchan) sonnet and the Shakespearean (or English) sonnet. Like the Italian sonnet, the Shakespearean sonnet has a rigid rhyme scheme and outline….

Shakespearean Sonnet Consists of 14 lines The Shakespearean sonnet: Consists of 14 lines Is divided into three quatrains and a couplet Has the following rhyme scheme: ababcdcdefefgg Typically employ iambic pentameter

Draw This Diagram… First Quatrain Fourteen Lines Total Second Quatrain A B C D E F G First Quatrain Fourteen Lines Total Second Quatrain Third Quatrain Concluding Couplet (also called the “Turn”)

Iambic Pentameter Iambic pentameter refers to a line of poetry containing five iambs (one unstressed, one stressed syllable). In other words, an iamb is a metrical foot consisting of two syllables, one unaccented followed by an accented one. The stress of each syllable in the line follows the rhythm of a heartbeat (for the most part): “da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM”

Iambic Pentameter Example: “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?” Becomes: “But—soft, what—light—through—yon—der—win—dow—breaks?”

Activity Read and analyze the Shakespearean sonnet. If you get stuck on certain words, use the context clues in the line, the dictionary on the bookcase, or the handout you received. Be prepared to share your responses!