1. Write a summary for each of the sonnets:
Comparing Sonnets
To be able to compare and contrast sonnets focussing on the presentation of love and hate.
Write a summary for each of the sonnets:
2, 9, 17, 18, 130, 138, 144, 147

2. What are the main feelings presented in these poems?
Comparing Sonnets
Look back at Sonnets 18 and 147.
What are the main feelings presented in these poems?

3. Both use complimentary language.
Compare how feelings of love and hate are presented in Sonnets 18 and 147
Uses hyperbole and repetition to compare beauty
‘for I have sworn thee fair.’
‘thou art more lovely and more temperate’
Personal opinion expressed but this is then juxtaposed with reality (‘black as hell’)
‘Sonnet 18’
‘more’ x2 – strong belief
‘lovely’ & ‘temperate’ – positive vocabulary
‘Sonnet 147 ’
‘sworn’ – a powerful oath; believed strongly
‘fair’ – beauty (positive)
Both use complimentary language.
Both use similes
Language analysis
Language analysis
Examples
Explanation
Explanation

4. Compare how feelings of love and hate are presented in Sonnets 18 and 147
Shakespeare uses complimentary language in both sonnets to describe his subject. In sonnet 18 he states ‘thou art more lovely and more temperate.’ This use of repetition and hyperbole highlights the positive feelings he has for the subject who is ‘more’ beautiful than a summer’s day. The use of the conjunction ‘and’, which is used instead of a comma, means there is equal emphasis on the words ‘lovely’ and ‘temperate’ which leads readers to believe that the speaker is in love with his subject whom he obviously finds attractive. In contrast, whilst sonnet 147 also includes complimentary language like ‘for I have sworn thee fair and thought thee bright,’ it is juxtaposed with the negative ‘who art as black as hell.’ This description is less straightforward as it suggests that the subject is both beautiful (‘fair’) but perhaps has a darker personality as inferred through the simile ‘black as hell.’ The words ‘fair’ and ‘bright’ have positive connotations suggesting hope and beauty whilst the words ‘black’ and ‘hell’ are negative and have more menacing connotations. Readers may infer that the speaker is torn between love and hate (of which there is a fine line) and cannot decide how he truly feels. Furthermore, in sonnet 18 the speaker is more confident as he uses definitive words like ‘thou art’ (you are) whilst in 147 he uses ‘sworn’ and ‘thought’ which indicate opinion and arguably, uncertainty. Overall, sonnet 18 is positive and has strong feelings of love whilst sonnet 147 is more contradictory and includes feelings of hatred.

5. PEELA Writing
Write your own paragraph comparing the two sonnets. You have 15 minutes.

6. SOLO Peer Evaluation
They have identified key ideas and selected appropriate evidence to support. (Point & Evidence) They have explained the evidence and what readers can infer from it. (Explanation) They have analysed language and explained the effect on the reader/the image that is created. (Lang. Analysis) They have hypothesised about extended/alternative meanings in texts and evaluated the overall significance of language. (Extended/Alternative View)

7. Home Learning
Choose two other sonnets. Write 2 paragraphs comparing and contrasting Shakespeare’s presentation of love and hate.