40 likes | 197 Views
Sonnets. February 6, 2014. What is a sonnet?. 14 line poem Rhyme in a fixed pattern Popular form of expression; often love Originated in Italy comes from the Italian word “ sonnetto ” meaning “little song” Form first popularized by Italian poet Petrarch
E N D
Sonnets February 6, 2014
What is a sonnet? • 14 line poem • Rhyme in a fixed pattern • Popular form of expression; often love • Originated in Italy • comes from the Italian word “sonnetto” meaning “little song” • Form first popularized by Italian poet Petrarch • Spread from Italy, to France, Spain, and England where many poets experimented with this form
Shakespearean sonnets • Characterized by a fixed rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG • 3 quatrains(groups of four rhymed lines; each quatrain develops a specific idea related to the other quatrains) • 1 couplet(rhymed pair of lines that provides commentary on the subject of the previous 3 quatrains) ABAB \ CDCD -- 3 quatrains EFEF / GG -- 1 couplet • Written in iambic pentameter
Iambic Pentameter • Meter: the rhythm repeated throughout the poem • A unit of meter is called a foot(plural feet) • One type of foot is called an iambic foot: composed of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable • Pentameter: five (penta) units of meter Iambic pentameter: 5 iambic feet = 10 syllables total Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day