Post on 18-Jan-2018
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Revised 2004 © Copyright. Academic Year 2004-2005, by M. Chavez. (http://www.mschavez.org)
British Literature Class Notes
Shakespearean
Sonnets
About SONNETS Sonnet
A lyric poem which contains 14 lines written in iambic pentameter form. Shakesperean Sonnet
Octave (first 8 lines) presents a situation, attitude, or problem
Sestet (last 6 lines) comments upon or resolves the problem,
situation or attitude posed in the octave Couplet - (last 2 lines)
Contains a thought or complete idea about the topic.
Contains 2 rhyming lines.
About SONNETS Functions of
OCTAVES and SESTETS Octave- presents
a situation, attitude, or problem
Sestet comments upon or resolves the problem, situation or attitude posed in the octave
Sonnet Definitions
Iambic Foot - Consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. Iambic foot is usually depicted with these symbols:
Iambic Pentameter A line of verse with five feet is known as pentameter (Greek penta, "five"). Five feet in each verse, each containing an iamb (the second of two syllables stressed).
Meter - The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables or the units of stress pattern.
Sonnet Definitions
Couplet - A pair of rhymed lines (of any length or rhythm).
Rhyme Scheme - The pattern of rhymed words. Stanzas are often linked by their rhyme scheme. Rhyme scheme is lacking in some modern poetry.
Scansion - The process of measuring verse, that is, of marking accented and unaccented syllables, dividing the lines into feet, identifying the metrical pattern, and noting significant variations from that pattern.
Stress - A term applied to the emphasis placed on a syllable in a word. A synonym for stress is "accent."
Verse - A single line of poetry
Sonnet #12 ExplainedWhen I do count the clock that tells the time, And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;When I behold the violet past prime,And sable curls, all silvered o'er with white;When lofty trees I see barren of leaves,Which erst from heat did canopy the herd,And summer's green all girded up in sheaves,Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard,Then of thy beauty do I question make,That thou among the wastes of time must go,Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsakeAnd die as fast as they see others grow;And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defenceSave breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.
ABABCDCDEFEFGG
Rhyme Scheme
OCTAVESESTET
Couplet