Sonnets
During the next part of the unit the students will begin learning about sonnets. They will be taught the proper forms of a sonnet and learn how to read for the "concealed story." Various sonnets will be used, including, but not limited to, Shakespeare's Sonnets 18, 29 and 116. During my participation in the seminar "Love and Politics in the Sonnet," I have become familiar with Shakespeare and learned to love his work. I have come to the realization that Shakespeare is accessible for my sixth graders because he talks about things that interest everyone. Students will transfer what they learned in the previous part of the unit to this segment. Not only will they interpret the sonnets but they will also be expected to identify any figurative language and literary devices that are present. Finally, students will be expected to write their own sonnet expressing their feelings regarding a topic of their choice.
Background for Sonnets
A sonetto, or "little song," is the original name for a sonnet which was created in the thirteenth century. The sonnet was invented by Guittone di Arezzo also known as Giacomo de Lentino in 1235AD in Italy; however, it was Dante confirmed its significance as a literary form. 1 6 While Arezzo and Dante all played a part in the creation of the sonnet, Francis Petrarch, composer of 300 sonnets, is the one to be credited with the dispersion of the sonnet throughout Europe. Petrarch's devotion to a woman named Laura was the theme of his writing. There are two main forms of sonnets, Italian and English. Sir Thomas Wyatt translated Petrarch's work into English using the Italian form. To reflect the greater variety of rhyme words in English, the poets of England created the English form. Shakespeare and his associates embraced the English form, fixing it for later generations, with a greater number of rhymes. 1 7
Types of Sonnets
Along with the Italian and English sonnet, other variations do exist such as the Spenserian sonnet and the Indefinable sonnet. While each form of sonnet has its own characteristics, the most common sonnet in England (from Milton on) as well as Italy consists of fourteen iambic pentameter lines with an octave, sestet and volta. An octave has eight lines, while a sestet is six lines containing two or three rhyming sounds. The volta is the turn in the sonnet, usually causing a change in attitude toward the subject matter.
Italian (Petrarchan) Sonnet
"A Game of Chess" by Gwen Hardwood depicts the true form of the Petrarchan sonnet. The first eight lines, the octave, has a rhyme pattern of abba; cddc with the volta happening at the ninth line. It becomes apparent that the subject matter changes from "the external world to the internal world of the game." 1 8 The sestet, the last six lines, follows a rhyme pattern of efgefg.
Spenserian Sonnet
The Spenserian sonnet originated with Edmund Spenser. It follows a different rhyme scheme from that of the Italian sonnet and closes with a couplet. The couplet is located as the last two lines of the sonnet. Traditionally, the couplet will turn to an idea that differs from that of the first three quatrains. The volta may appear at the couplet, unlike the Italian sonnet where it is evident in line nine. 1 9 Using an amalgamation of the English and Italian sonnet forms, "One Day I Wrote Her Name Upon a Strand" by Edmund Spenser delivers a clear example of a Spenserian Sonnet. Using three quatrains, the sonnet has connecting rhymes between the quatrains, unlike the Italian or English style.
English (Shakespearian) Sonnet
The English sonnet is thought to be the form that has the most flexible pattern, containing three quatrains of alternating rhyme and a couplet. Differing in this from the other forms, the poet's ideas run parallel from quatrain to quatrain. There is no set place for the volta in this form of sonnet writing. 2 0 Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 exemplifies the English sonnet form. The first quatrain has a pattern of abab followed by the second with a cdcd pattern and the third, efef. The volta appearing at line nine (as in the Italian sonnet,) represents a change of focus from summer and nature to a woman who retains a special quality that makes her a candidate for immortality.
Indefinables
The name closely represents what this form entails. Basically, it does not follow a clear pattern of rhyme; however it does contain qualities of a sonnet 2 1 An example of an indefinable sonnet is "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley because of the abnormal rhyme pattern.
Interpreting Sonnets
In order to interpret a sonnet, it is imperative to gain an understanding of the author. Including, in your instruction, the forms of sonnets along with background information about individual poets helps the students to realize what the poet is thinking. Another important aspect of interpreting a sonnet is to determine a) who the author is speaking to and b) whether the author is the speaker. Students must understand that in many cases the author is not the speaker. While we may tend to believe that many poems are autobiographical and the poet is writing to express their feelings, we can see through interpretation that this is not the case in many poems. When reading a poem, one should not assume that just because the poem contains an "I," that the author is referring to himself. Poems, just like novels, can be spoken by a character to and about other characters. The most concrete way to understand who the speaker of any given poem is, is to understand the author. For example, the speaker may say something very silly, something that no one worth reading would seriously believe.
Writing a Sonnet
Obviously, in order to write a sonnet, the students must have knowledge of the various forms and the framework of a sonnet. Once the student has chosen which form they will use for writing their sonnet, whether it is English, Italian or Spenserian, the rest should be fairly simple. First, decide on the form. Second, decide on the topic they wish to write about. Next, remember that iambic pentameter is the appropriate meterthough perhaps some latitude could be given on this point for beginning poets. Iambic pentameter consists of "ten syllables in each line and five pairs of alternating stressed and unstressed syllables." 2 2 For me this is the most difficult part of writing a sonnet, so I must take into account that this is a section of the unit that may need reinforcing and extra instruction. Once the students have acquired the understanding of iambic pentameter, they should write their first line. The first line provides the last word which will then start their thinking process of the rhyme scheme. Throughout the writing process, the students should be aware of the octave, sestet, volta and possibly a couplet. Again, the form that they choose will determine what rhyme pattern they will use and where the volta will take place.
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