KS3 English: Introduction to the sonnet

Introduction to sonnets

Lesson 1 of 3

Mrs Barry
You will need…
pen paper brain
Head
A
 What is poetry?

Features of poetry

Historical context

Example

Quiz!

3
What is poetry?
“Poetry is a type of literature, or artistic writing, that attempts to stir a
reader’s imagination or emotions. The poet does this by carefully
choosing and arranging language for its meaning, sound, and rhythm.
Some poems, such as nursery rhymes, are simple and humorous. Other
poems may try to express some truth about life, to tell a story, or to
honour a person or a god. Poetry appears in a great many forms and
styles. This makes it difficult to define exactly.”

Consider this definition of poetry.

On the next slide there are
some statements about poetry - can you
identify which ones are true and which are
false?
True or false?

1 Poetry is a type of literature.

2 Poems try to capture the reader’s imagination.

3 Poets never consider the meaning of the language they use.

7
4 Nursery rhymes are not a type of poetry.

5 Some poems are simple, others are more complicated.

6 Poetry comes in many forms and styles.

7 Poetry is easy to define.

True or false?

1 Poetry is a type of literature. T

2 Poems try to capture the reader’s imagination.

3 Poets never consider the meaning of the language they use.

8
4 Nursery rhymes are not a type of poetry.

5 Some poems are simple, others are more complicated.

6 Poetry comes in many forms and styles.

7 Poetry is easy to define.

True or false?

1 Poetry is a type of literature. T

2 Poems try to capture the reader’s imagination. T

3 Poets never consider the meaning of the language they use.

9
4 Nursery rhymes are not a type of poetry.

5 Some poems are simple, others are more complicated.

6 Poetry comes in many forms and styles.

7 Poetry is easy to define.

True or false?

1 Poetry is a type of literature. T

2 Poems try to capture the reader’s imagination. T

3 Poets never consider the meaning of the language they use. F

10
4 Nursery rhymes are not a type of poetry.

5 Some poems are simple, others are more complicated.

6 Poetry comes in many forms and styles.

7 Poetry is easy to define.

True or false?

1 Poetry is a type of literature. T

2 Poems try to capture the reader’s imagination. T

3 Poets never consider the meaning of the language they use. F

11
4 Nursery rhymes are not a type of poetry. F

5 Some poems are simple, others are more complicated.

6 Poetry comes in many forms and styles.

7 Poetry is easy to define.

True or false?

1 Poetry is a type of literature. T

2 Poems try to capture the reader’s imagination. T

3 Poets never consider the meaning of the language they use. F

12
4 Nursery rhymes are not a type of poetry. F

5 Some poems are simple, others are more complicated. T

6 Poetry comes in many forms and styles.

7 Poetry is easy to define.

True or false?

1 Poetry is a type of literature. T

2 Poems try to capture the reader’s imagination. T

3 Poets never consider the meaning of the language they use. F

13
4 Nursery rhymes are not a type of poetry. F

5 Some poems are simple, others are more complicated. T

6 Poetry comes in many forms and styles. T

7 Poetry is easy to define.

True or false?

1 Poetry is a type of literature. T

2 Poems try to capture the reader’s imagination. T

3 Poets never consider the meaning of the language they use. F

14
4 Nursery rhymes are not a type of poetry. F

5 Some poems are simple, others are more complicated. T

6 Poetry comes in many forms and styles. T

7 Poetry is easy to define. F

In this unit of work, we are
going to look closely at a particular form
of poetry.
Can you figure out what form of poetry we will be
looking at, even though some of the letters are missing?

s o n n e t
Can you figure out what form of poetry we will be
looking at, even though some of the letters are
missing?

s o n n e t
Can you figure out what form of poetry we will be
looking at, even though some of the letters are
missing?

s o n n e t
Can you figure out what form of poetry we will be
looking at, even though some of the letters are missing?

s o n n e t
Can you figure out what form of poetry we will be
looking at, even though some of the letters are missing?

s o n n e t

Did you get it right? Well done if you did. But what is a sonnet?
Let’s start by looking at some
information about the history of the
sonnet.
History of the sonnet

Sonnets are traditionally about love, but poets have used

sonnets to express their thoughts and feelings about many
subjects, such as religion, politics and nature.

Sonnets originated in Italy in the 13th

century. The most famous writer of Italian
style sonnets was Petrarch, who wrote about
an idealised version of love.
History of the sonnet

In the 16th century, probably the most famous writer

of all started writing sonnets - William Shakespeare.
His sonnets focussed on many aspects of love, such as
jealousy, lust and admiration.

Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets share many

similarities. However, Shakespeare made some
changes to the structure and rhyme scheme that make
his sonnets slightly different to Petrarch's.
History of the sonnet
Sonnets went out of fashion for a while, but then writers such as
William Wordsworth started writing them. Wordsworth wrote
about the power and beauty of nature.

Sonnets were also popular with writers in the Victorian era, such
as Elizabeth Barrett-Browning. Victorian sonnets expand greatly
on the usual topic of love and cover many themes, such as social
class, women’s rights and slavery.

Sonnets continue to be used by modern poets up to the present

day.
Pause the video to complete your task

Write down these key points about the history of the sonnet.

● Sonnets are traditionally about love, but can be about many

other subjects too.
● Sonnets originated in Italy in the 13th century.
● Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets have some differences
in structure and rhyme scheme.

Resume once you’re finished

English
Lesson 1 of ‘Sonnet 18’ by William Shakespeare

The Shakespearean Sonnet

Mr. Posthill
‘Sonnet 18’: What do we know about sonnets?
A sonnet is a form of poetry originating in the 13th
century.

It is a 14 line poem that usually has 10 syllables in a

line.

The most well-known sonnet forms are the Petrarchan

Sonnet and the Shakespearean Sonnet.
Copy out and complete the sentences below by filling in the gaps

1) A s_____ has 14 l____ of 10 s________ each.

2) Sonnets originated in the 13th c______.

3) Two of the most well-k____ s_____ writers were

Petrarch and S__________.
Copy out and complete the sentences below by filling in the gaps

1) A sonnet has 14 lines of 10 syllables each.

2) Sonnets originated in the 13th century.

3) Two of the most well-known sonnet writers were

Petrarch and Shakespeare.
 Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? A
Thou art more lovely and more temperate: B
‘Sonnet 18’ by William Shakespeare
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, A
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date; B
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, C
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; D
And every fair from fair sometime declines, C
By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm'd; D
But thy eternal summer shall not fade, E
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st; F
Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade, E
When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st: F
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, G
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. G
What rhyme scheme does a Shakespearean Sonnet
follow?
Option 1 Option 2

It has no rhyme scheme. It uses heroic couplets throughout.

Option 3 Option 4

It uses an ABAB rhyme It uses an ABAB rhyme scheme

scheme with a romantic couplet throughout.
at the end.
What rhyme scheme does a Shakespearean Sonnet
follow?
Option 1 Option 2

It has no rhyme scheme. It uses heroic couplets throughout.

Option 3 Option 4

It uses an ABAB rhyme It uses an ABAB rhyme scheme

scheme with a romantic couplet throughout.
at the end.
Poetic Metre

New Language: Metre

In poetry, metre is the basic rhythm and structure of a
verse or lines in verse.
The metre refers to the number of syllables in a line and
the flow or beat that those syllables make when read.
Iambic Pentameter
Most sonnets are written in the poetic metre known as Iambic Pentameter.

Iambic Pentameter

Iamb Pentameter

A pair of syllables (I / amb) 5 lots (of pairs) in each line

Iambic Pentameter is ...

Iambic Pentameter is when a poet uses five pairs of syllables,

called Iambs, in each line.

Iambic Pentameter can be seen in Shakespearean sonnets.

You may have already encountered Iambic Pentameter used in

Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.
 Read this information on stresses and syllables

In our natural way of speaking we Acoustic Guitar Guitar by OpenClipart-Vectors (Pixabay)

tend to place more stress on

particular parts of words. This stress
makes some syllables in the word
sound ‘long’ and some sound
‘short’.
 Read this information on stresses and syllables
Acoustic Guitar Guitar by OpenClipart-Vectors (Pixabay)
The way we say the word guitar (gui-tar),
means that it sounds like the first syllable ‘gui’
is short and the second syllable ‘tar’ is long.

Try saying
We call this stressed and unstressed the word
aloud
syllables. ‘Tar’ is stressed and ‘Gui’
several
is unstressed. times.
Iambic Pentameter
Shall I / compare / thee to / a sum /mer’s day?
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
10

Thou art / more love / ly and / more tem / perate:

1 2 1 2
2 1 2 1 1 2 10

Rough winds / do shake /the darl /ing buds / of May,

1 1 1 1 1 5

And sum / mer’s lease / hath all / too short / a date;

1 1 1 1 1 5
Pause the video and complete exercise 1 on the next
slide.

Resume once you’re finished

Copy out the lines below and annotate the syllables (10) and iambs (pairs
of syllables - 5) on the lines below using a 1 & 2 to represent the syllables,
and a / to split the iambs.

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;

Copy out the lines below and annotate the syllables (10) and iambs (pairs
of syllables - 5) on the lines below using a 1 & 2 to represent the syllables,
and a / to split the iambs.

Sometime / too hot / the eye / of heav /en shines,

1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

And of / ten is / his gold / complex / ion dimm'd;

1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
True or false
a) A Shakespearean sonnet has 14 lines.
b) A Shakespearean sonnet uses rhyming couplets
throughout.
c) A Shakespearean sonnet is written in free verse with a
chaotic metre.
d) A Shakespearean sonnet is written in Iambic Pentameter.
True or false
a) A Shakespearean sonnet has 14 lines.
b) A Shakespearean sonnet uses rhyming couplets
throughout.
c) A Shakespearean sonnet is written in free verse with a
chaotic metre.
d) A Shakespearean sonnet is written in Iambic Pentameter.
Shakespeare and his sonnets
William Shakespeare was a renowned English poet
& playwright. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon
and lived, mainly in London, between 1564 and
1616.

In his lifetime, Shakespeare wrote 38 plays and

154 sonnets (that we know of).
Shakespeare and his Sonnets
Shakespeare's sonnets focus on the theme of love.

The first 126 sonnets seem to be written to a young man who is

the object of the speaker's desire.

The last 28 sonnets are addressed to an older woman, referred

to as the 'dark lady', who causes both love and hatred in the
speaker.
True or false
a) Shakespeare lived in the 15th & 16th Century.
b) Shakespeare was a famous poet and playwright.
c) Shakespeare wrote sonnets addressed to both a young
man and a ‘dark lady’.
d) Shakespeare wrote only 38 sonnets in his 52 year life.
True or false
a) Shakespeare lived in the 15th & 16th Century.
b) Shakespeare was a famous poet and playwright.
c) Shakespeare wrote sonnets addressed to both a young
man and a ‘dark lady’.
d) Shakespeare wrote only 38 sonnets in his 52 year life.
Pause the video and complete the exercise on the next
slide.

Resume once you’re finished

Shakespearean Sonnet
Pause the video and circle which of the elements below are aspects of a
Shakespearean Sonnet.
Iambic Has 12 lines Theme of AABB Rhyme

Quatrameter love Scheme

Iambic Theme of death Iambic

Pentameter Tetrameter
Has 14 lines Ends with a rhyming
ABAB Rhyme
Scheme couplet
Shakespearean Sonnet
Pause the video and circle which of the elements below are aspects of a
Shakespearean Sonnet.
Iambic Has 12 lines Theme of AABB Rhyme

Quatrameter love Scheme

Iambic Theme of death Iambic

Pentameter Tetrameter
Has 14 lines Ends with a rhyming
ABAB Rhyme
Scheme couplet