1. The Sonnet Adapted from
PBS.org, Cliffs notes, Ms. Hurt, McDougal Littell’s The Language of Literature: British Literature

2. History of the Sonnet
Invented by Italian poet Francesco Petrarch in 1327; smitten with Laura.
Petrarch expressed his unrequited love for this woman in his sonnets.
The Italian sonnet is usually referred to as the Petrarchan sonnet.

3. The Petrarchan Sonnet consists of…
an octave (8 lines) that tells a story, introduces a situation, or raises a question.
A sestet (6 lines) that comment on the story, situation or question.
Rhyme scheme: ABBA ABBA CDE CDE

4. The English Sonnet
Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, introduced the form sonnet into England.
Sir Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser, John Donne and John Milton wrote sonnets.
William Shakespeare perfected it.

5. The English or Shakespearean Sonnet is
A poem written in iambic pentameter
With 3 quatrains and 1 couplet
Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

6. The Quatrain Four rhyming lines (ABAB) of poetry
First quatrain reflects theme of sonnet; introduces situation
Second and third quatrains develop, vary or expand the theme. A turn sometimes occurs in the third quatrain.

7. The Couplet Two rhyming lines (GG) of poetry
Either summarizes the previous 12 lines, provides a resolution, a turn or shift in thought, or
Presents a surprise ending (Reversal)

8. Themes of a sonnet Love: unrequited, desperate, eternal or tragic
Praise of Beauty
Old Age
Conformity
Gaining Immortality through the poem
Life Like a Play

9. What have you learned? History of sonnet Octave Sestet Quatrain
Couplet
Rhyme Scheme
Themes of sonnet

10. Now, You Practice! Textbook: pages 303 and 309
Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 29 and Petrarch’s Sonnet 169
Identify the following: rhyme scheme, octave, sestet, quatrain, couplet.
Identify the theme of the sonnet and the poet’s resolution or comment.
State your opinion of poem’s message.