College of Education
Activity in Survey in English and American Literature
Name: Bangan, Leonard T.
Compare and contrast various sonnets by providing the needed information in the table.
Sonnet Definition
1. Shakespearean The English sonnet is
sonnet often called a
Shakespearean sonnet
since the poet William
Shakespeare was the
most prolific (and
famous!) English sonnet-
writer during the
sixteenth century.
2. Petrarchan This sonnet appears to
sonnet have originated among
Sicilian poets around a
century or earlier before
Petrarch gave it a new
look. This sonnet named
after the Italian poet
Francesco Petrarca,
Course and Year: BSEd 3B-English
Characteristics Theme Style Rhyme Scheme
Shakespearean sonnet Shakespeare uses a sonnet Shakespeare’s The Shakespearean
has 14 lines of verse to show that romantic love approach to the sonnet sonnet, sometimes
and is written in and tragic conflict are going embodies all the called English sonnet,
iambic pentameter, to be two main themes of characteristics that the has the rhyme scheme
this type of sonnet has the play. This creative English sonnet is abab cdcd efef gg.
three quatrains and choice shows just how known for today: the
one couplet instead of common it was for people to structure, rhyme
an octave and a sestet. associate sonnets with scheme, presentation
A single quatrain is themes of love and tragedy of a theme and a
made up of four lines during the Elizabethan Era. problem in the three
of verse, and a couplet quatrains, and the use
is made up of two of a volta at the
lines. couplet to explain how
the problem will be
resolved.
Petrarchan sonnets Beauty and unrequited love, Petrarchan poems are The Italian sonnet,
have 14 lines divided is the most common theme divided into two sometimes called the
into an octave and a of the Petrarchan sonnet. sections so the poet Petrarchan sonnet, has
sestet and makes use can ask questions and an octave rhyming
of a volta to initiate a reach an answer. abba abba, and a
turn or shift in the tone Thematically, the sestet usually rhyming
of the poem. Italian octave, or first eight cdcdcd or cdecde.
sonnets are almost lines, often makes a
 but different sources always written in proposition, which
claim that Francesco did iambic pentameter. asks a question or
not invent the sonnet but describes a problem.
perfected and Then the sestet, or
popularized it in the final six lines,
1300s, which is why it’s proposes a resolution
interchangeably called or solution.
an Italian sonnet or
Petrarchan sonnet.

3. Spenserian The Spenserian Sonnet is Spenserian sonnets are Spenserian sonnet ponders Spenser uses each The Spenserian sonnet
sonnet another English sonnet always written in the ideas of love and quatrain to develop a has the rhyme scheme
form used primarily by iambic pentameter and pleasure. metaphor, question, abab bcbc cdcd ee.
medieval author Sir use the same structure idea, or conflict in a
Edmund Spenser. It is as English or logical way. At the
also written using three Shakespearean sonnet end of his sonnets, he
quatrains and one (three quatrains and a uses the couplet to
couplet, like the couplet), but rely on a make a bold statement
Shakespearean form, more complicated that resolves the
Spenserian sonnets are rhyme scheme. What themes presented in
written as a single makes the rhyme the quatrains. Spenser
stanza. scheme of a also often included an
Spenserian sonnet early volta around line
more complicated is 9 of his sonnets, but
that it repeats the same the first volta in his
end rhyme several sonnet does not solve
times over. It is often the problem, the
referred to as a linking couplet in the end is
sonnet because the where the problem is
rhyming pattern. ultimately resolved.

Terms:
Sonnet – meaning “a little song”, a type of poem that traditionally has 14 lines that are written in iambic pentameter.
Iamb – a measurement of 2 syllables in poetry.
– a unit of one stressed and one unstressed syllable.
Penta – means 5
Iambic pentameter – (5 X 2 = 10)
– 5 units of stressed and unstressed syllables per line.
– 10 syllables per line

Ex. Shall / I / com/pare / thee / to / a / sum/mer’s / day?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Quatrain – a stanza of four lines. Often two quatrains comprise an octave.

Octave – a group of eight lines, usually two quatrains. Most often, the octave is the first eight lines of a sonnet.
Tercet – a group of three lines. In the Italian sonnet, two tercets often comprise a sestet.
Sestet – a group of six lines. Most often, the sestet is the last six lines of a sonnet (two tercets n the Italian sonnet; a quatrain and a couplet in the
Shakespearean or English sonnet)
Couplet – is a group of two lines, often the last two lines of an English or Spenserian sonnet.
Volta – the turning point, where the problem shifts to resolution. In Petrarchan sonnet, volta occurs between the octave and the sestet. In
Shakespearean or English sonnet, it occurs before the final couplet.
 Interlocking rhyme – also known as “chain verse”. A type of poetic technique where the poet uses the last syllable of a line and repeats it as the
first syllable of the line following. Although the syllable is repeated, t carries a different meaning.
Complete the table based from the famous works of William Shakespeare.
Play Title Characters
MACBETH - he is a Captain in Duncan’s army.
1. Macbeth
LADY MACBETH - She is the devilish wife of
Macbeth, whose ambition helps to drive her husband
toward the desperate act of murder.
THREE WITCHES - the agents of fate who reveal
part of the truth to Macbeth and Banquo and who
later appear to confirm the downfall of Macbeth.
KING DUNCAN - King of Scotland.
BANQUO - a Captain of King Duncan and friend of
Macbeth.
MACDUFF - a thane of Scotland who discovered the
murdered King Duncan.
LENNOX - a thane of Scotland.
Theme
CONSCIENCE - Macbeth is
indecisive in killing King Duncan
because he sees him as a great
King.
EVIL - witches are evil-looking;
Lady Macbeth wants to pursue an
evil plan.
AMBITION - Lady Macbeth’s
ambition for Macbeth drives her
to ask Macbeth to kill King
Duncan.
Lesson
Macbeth is a story about how ambition
can be extremely harmful. Shakespeare
portrays this idea through Macbeth's
character by illustrating how his desire
for more power and recognition
transformed him, prompting him to
murder people and commit wicked acts.
The paly Macbeth also shows that
regicide and other wicked crimes to gain
and usurp power would result in
punishment.
 HAMLET - prince of Denmark. Son of Queen
2. Hamlet Gertrude and the late King Hamlet. A reflective and
thoughtful young man. The protagonist.
CLAUDIUS - the King of Denmark. Hamlet’s uncle,
and the play’s antagonist. An ambitious politician,
driven by his sexual appetites and his lust for power.
GERTRUDE - the Queen of Denmark. Hamlet’s
mother, recently married to Claudius. She loves
Hamlet deeply, but she is a shallow, weak woman
who seeks affection and status more than moral truth.
POLONIUS - the Lord Chamberlain of Claudius’
court.
HORATIO - Hamlet’s close friend.
OPHELIA - a beautiful young woman with whom
Hamlet has been in love.
THE MONTAGUES
3. Romeo and
Juliet ROMEO: Lord and Lady Montague’s son.
MONTAGUE: The head of the house of Montague,
he is Romeo’s father and enemy of Capulet.
LADY MONTAGUE: Romeo’s mother.
MERCUTIO: Kinsman of Prince Escalus and friend
of Romeo.
BENVOLIO: Nephew of Montague and friend of
REVENGE - The two young
men (Hamlet & Laertes) bent on
avenging their father’s death in
this play.
POWER & POLITICS -
Claudius has murdered his King
Hamlet.
MYSTERY OF DEATH -
aftermath of his father’s murder,
Hamlet is obsessed with the idea
of death.
LOVE
The play's dominating and most
crucial theme is, of course, love.
The play is about romantic love,
notably the tremendous desire
that arises between Romeo and
Juliet at first sight. Love is a
violent, exuberant, dominating
force in Romeo and Juliet,
superseding all other values,
loyalties, and feelings.
Violence
Hamlet teaches us two things. The first
is that people can cause harm if they let
their rage and revenge consume them.
The second is that you can get away
with something for a while in life, but
not forever. These teachings are taught
through the activities of several
characters.
The story of Romeo and Juliet teaches
us to let go of old prejudices and not to
allow feelings rule our lives. Romeo and
Juliet would not have died as they did if
the Capulets and Montagues had kept
their family rivalry in the past and not
let their emotions guide their actions.
The most important lesson we can take
from Romeo and Juliet is to be honest
in life, rather than be earnest to each
other. other. Second, there are certain
principles in life that we should not
Romeo.
BALTHASAR: Romeo’s servant.
ABRAM: A servant of the Montagues.
 
THE CAPULETS
JULIET: Daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet.
CAPULET: The head of the house of Capulet, he is
Juliet’s father and enemy of Montague.
LADY CAPULET: Juliet’s mother.
NURSE: To Juiliet.
PETER: Servant to the nurse and Juliet.
TYBALT: Nephew of Lady Capulet and cousin of
Juliet
SAMPSON: Servant of the Capulets.
GREGORY: Servant of the Capulets.
OTHERS
FRIAR LAWRENCE: A Franciscan friar and close
friend of Romeo.
Violence pervades Romeo and overlook, and we must also follow our
Juliet's world due to the promises. One should think twice about
continuous war between the doing something new and pursue it as if
Capulets and the Montagues. In it were something that would help one's
the first scene, Shakespeare life.
shows how violence is
inextricably linked to the play's Finally, one should never take one's
setting. The play begins with family, guardians, or the effort they put
Sampson and Gregory making in for you for granted, and one should
jokes about committing violent work tirelessly to achieve one's life's
deeds against Montague family goal.
members. When Lord Montague's
servant, Abram, shows up, they
immediately prepare for a battle.
"Draw thy tool!" Gregory orders
Sampson.” which Sampson does
right away.
PARIS: A relative of Prince Escalus.

PRINCE ESCALUS: The prince of Verona, he is

related to Mercutio and Paris.

FRIAR JOHN: Another Franciscan friar.