UNDERSTANDING THE SONNETS OF SHAKESPEARE

By Calynn Snider

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The purpose of this study presentation is to provide students a better understanding and ability to analyze sonnets, specifically those of Shakespeare. The material covered in this presentation will be included in the quizzes after each section.

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UNDERSTANDING SONNETS

When completed with this presentation, you will be able to analyze and understand the different parts of a sonnet, as well as being able to write one.

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UNDERSTANDING SHAKESPEARE

You will also be able to recognize the works of Shakespeare as well as decipher his meanings.

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THE SONNETS OF SHAKESPEAREMADE EASY

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WHICH WOULD YOU LIKE TOLEARN FIRST?

About Sonnets

Shakespeare

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SONNETS

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A sonnet is a type of poem which uses fourteen lines of any formal rhyme scheme.

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DIRECTIONS

Read the information provided about sonnets, Shakespeare, and sonnets written by Shakespeare by clicking either the icon, or choose the number of a sonnet.

Click the icon as you finish reading You may read through the information as

many times as needed before the quizzes.

Sonnets

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I am visiting for the first time

I have been here before. Jump to

sonnet…

3 18

35 116

Start with Sonnets

106

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We will be studying the English (Shakespearean) sonnet, so called because Shakespeare is one of the most famous writers of this particular type of sonnets.

These sonnets are structured of fourteen lines in 3 quatrains and a couplet

A quatrain consists of four lines of verse, found at the end of a sonnet.

A couplet is a pair of lines of meter in poetry.

SONNETS

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There are usually three “turns” or voltas within a sonnet.

Also, there is a conceit which is the main point or theme of the poem.

Within Shakespearean sonnets, the conceit is usually located within the couplet.

The conceit generally summarizes the poem and allows the reader to look at the theme in a new way. Continue

SONNETS

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DEMONSTRATION VIDEO

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THINGS TO KNOW FOR THE QUIZ

What type of sonnets are we studying? Whom are these types of sonnets named for? How would you write these sonnets?

How many lines and turns? What is a conceit?

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DIRECTIONS FOR THE QUIZ

Carefully read the question Choose the best answer and select it to find

out if you correctly answered the question

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Why are English sonnets more commonly referred to as Shakespearean sonnets?

A Because Shakespeare is most famous for writing in this style.

Question 1

B

C

He was the only poet to write in this style.

Sonnets came about during the time of Shakespeare’s writing.

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Although this type of sonnet is named after Shakespeare, that is only because he is the most

famous for writing in this way.

How many lines are used in a sonnet?

Question 2

A

B

C

6

12

14

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There are 14 lines in a Shakespearean sonnet.

What is a quatrain?

Question 3

A

B

C

4 trains

A stanza of four lines with one having alternative rhymes

A style of writing that has 14 lines

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A quatrain is part of a sonnet that consists of four lines.

How many voltas are there within a sonnet?

Question 4

A

B

C

4

3

10

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There are only 3 voltas within a sonnet

What is a conceit?

Question 5

A

B

C

The main theme

Being vain

The first line of a sonnet

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A conceit is the main theme or point of a sonnet.

In a Shakespearean sonnet, where is the conceit usually located?

A

B

C

At the beginning

At the end

In the middle

Question 6

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The conceit is found at the end of a sonnet.

Great job!! You made it through the first part of this lesson and learning about sonnets.

Please click to move on and learn about Shakespeare and a few of his sonnets.

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Shakespeare’s

SonnetsContinue

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Shakespeare was a playwright (1564-1616) who wrote mostly comedies, historical plays, Greek and Roman plays, tragedies, and tragicomedies. Among his great writing achievements, he wrote 150 sonnets, a few of which we will be studying.

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We will be studying Shakespeare’s sonnets 3, 18, 35, 106, and 116

Several of these are among the most famous of Shakespeare’s works.

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SONNET 3

This is a procreation poem, in which Shakespeare attempts to convince his beautiful (male) friend to preserve his beauty by procreating.

This sonnet discusses how as time continues, beauty decreases.

Hence the need for Shakespeare’s friend to procreate so the beauty will carry over to the child.

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SONNET 3 CONTINUED

Shakespeare talks about his friend’s beauty when he speaks about his friend looking in a mirror.

Shakespeare says that his friend is being unfair and “unblessing some mother,” by not giving her a child by him

He is trying to convince his friend that if he does not reproduce, everything beautiful about him will die

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SONNET 18

Sonnet 18 is the first sonnet in which Shakespeare is not urging his friend towards procreating.

Shakespeare sticks wit the theme that beauty will fade over time.

This sonnet talks about stability and love immortalizing the poem and therefore the beauty of his friend.

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SONNET 35

It seems that Shakespeare’s best friend and his mistress have “sinned” together.

It appears that Shakespeare believes that he is making a mistake by forgiving his friend

Shakespeare wants to help his friend make sense of the “sensual fault”

Shakespeare is arguing against himself in this sonnet by forgiving his friend, but at the same time saying it is a mistake

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SONNET 106

To understand this sonnet, you should know what a blazon is. A blazon describes someone by taking different parts of their body and comparing them to things (apples, wheat, snow, etc.).

Shakespeare says in this sonnet how other poets would not have had the skills to describe his love.

He doesn’t make up false things about her beauty, but tells the truth.

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SONNET 116

Shakespeare believed that in order to really love someone, you should not want to change them, however, if they do change, you should still love them.

He also says that if this is not true then he, Shakespeare, was never a writer and that no one has ever truly loved.

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THINGS TO KNOW FOR THE QUIZ When was Shakespeare born? When did he die? What type of sonnet is sonnet 3? What does Shakespeare attempt to do in sonnet 3 and

why? What does sonnet 18 discuss? What happens that upsets Shakespeare in sonnet 35,

and what does he do about it? What is a blazon? What does Shakespeare say about love in sonnet 116?

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DIRECTIONS FOR THE QUIZ

Read the question and choose the best answer.

Lets begin!

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What type of poem was sonnet 3?

Question 1

A

B

C

Recreational

Procreational

Fundamental

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Procreation is the theme of sonnet 3.

Why does Shakespeare want his friend to procreate?

A

B

C

Because he wanted god children

Because his friend was dying

So the beauty of his friend would carry over to the child

Question 2

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Shakespeare wishes his friend to procreate to preserve his

friend’s beauty.

What does Shakespeare believe he is doing by forgiving his friend?

A

B

C

Doing the right thing

Making a mistake

Plotting revenge

Question 3

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Shakespeare thinks he is making a mistake by

forgiving his friend because he committed a terrible sin.

Who is Shakespeare arguing against in this sonnet?

A

B

C

His friend

His mistress

Himself

Question 4

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What is a blazon?

A

B

C

Comparing a person’s body parts to things such as apples or snow

Using a blazing introduction to catch the audience’s attention

Using fire to describe something in a poem

Question 5

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Shakespeare is arguing against himself.

What does Shakespeare imply about other poets in this sonnet?

A

B

C

They are not as good as him

They would not have skill enough to describe his mistress

They are wrong

Question 6

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A blazon is a comparison of a person’s body parts to things such as snow or

apples.

In this sonnet, Shakespeare tells the truth about his lover’s looks…

A

B

True

False

Question 7

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Shakespeare is very honest about his lover’s looks.

If you really love someone, you should try to change them according to Shakespeare…

A

B

True

False

Question 8

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Shakespeare says that other poets would not have skill enough to

describe his love.

What does Shakespeare say about himself if his description about love is untrue?

A

B

C

No one loves truly

He is not a writer

You should not be with that person

Question 9

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Shakespeare says he is not a writer if what he has said

about love is untrue.

In what year was Shakespeare born?

A

B

C

1564

1991

1616

Question 10

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Shakespeare was born in 1564.

YOU HAVE COMPLETED SHAKESPEAREAN SONNETS!

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Continue to citations

CITATIONS Greenblatt. Norton Anthology of English Lit. 8th ed.

Vol. 1. Print. Hellokids. "Star Toy Coloring Page - Coloring Pages

for PRESCHOOLERS." Kids Coloring Pages, Safe Videos and Activities for KIDS! Kids Games and Crafts, Kids Jokes and Poems, the Best for Children and Preescholars, Yodicity. Hellokids, 21 Nov. 2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. <http://www.hellokids.com/c_17649/coloring-page/coloring-pages-for-preschoolers/star-toy-coloring-page>.

"Shakespeare Project." Mel & Company. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. <http://melsheffler.com/hypermedia/project1.html>.

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