Unit II Part I: Sonnets

Unit II Part I: SonnetsUnit II Part I: Sonnets

Elizabethan Time PeriodElizabethan Time Period Author InformationAuthor Information Analysis of SonnetsAnalysis of Sonnets Vocabulary WordsVocabulary Words

Elizabethan Time Period

What century is considered the Elizabethan Period?

Why were sonnets so popular during the 16th century?

Literary Terms

Sonnet Sonnet sequence Renaissance

Literary Terms Patronage Stanza Octave Sestet Quatrain Couplet Exact rhyme Slant rhyme Personification

Author Information:Author Information: Edmund Spenser (1552-1599)Edmund Spenser (1552-1599) -formal education at Cambridge University-formal education at Cambridge University Published first poems while attending universityPublished first poems while attending university Depended on patronage for his workDepended on patronage for his work Never received a position at court Never received a position at court Spensarian sonnet:Spensarian sonnet:

rhymes rhymes ababbcbc cdcdeeababbcbc cdcdee Sometimes there is no break between octave Sometimes there is no break between octave

and sestetand sestet Elizabeth Boyle was his wife; sonnet sequence Elizabeth Boyle was his wife; sonnet sequence

entitled entitled ““AmorettiAmoretti””

“Sonnet 75”

One day I wrote her name upon the strand, But came the waves and washed it away: Again I wrote it with a second hand, But came the tide, and made my pains his prey.

5 “Vain man,” said she, “that dost in vain assay A mortal thing so to immortalize, For I myself shall like to this decay, And eek my name be wiped out likewise.”

“Not so,” quod I, “let baser things devise 10 To die in dust, but you shall live by fame:

My verse your virtues rare shall eternize, And in the heavens write your glorious name.

Where whenas death shall all the world subdue, Our love shall live, and later life renew.”

Author Information:Author Information: Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586) Formal education at Oxford and Cambridge Extensive travels brought a wide variety of

experiences A favorite in the court of Queen Elizabeth I 1580 fell out of favor of the queen for urging her

not to marry Knighted in 1583 Wrote the first great sonnet sequence linked by

a common theme in English Astrophel and Stella

“Sonnet 39”Come sleep. O sleep, the certain knot of peace,The baiting place of wit, the balm of woe, The poor man’s wealth, the prisoner’s release,The indifferent judge between the high and low;

5 With shield of proof shield me from out the preaseOf those fierce darts Despair at me doth throw:O make in me those civil wars to cease;I will good tribute pay, if thou do so.Take thou of me smooth pillows, sweetest bed,

10 A chamber deaf to noise, and blind to light,A rose garland, and a weary head:And if these things, as being thine by right,Move not thy heavy grace, thou shalt in me,Livelier than elsewhere, Stella’s image see.

Speaker: Tone: Theme: Rhyme scheme:

Author Information:Author Information:

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Born in Stratford on Avon

1593-1594 theaters were closed due to the plague

Wrote 154 sonnets during this time Explore five primary themes: time, death, love, friendship, and the

immortality of poetry


William Shakespeare (cont.)

Four Characteristics of a Shakespearean Sonnet: 14 rhymed lines Usual rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg Five iambic feet to the line (foot=unstressed syllable

followed by a stressed syllable) Three quatrains followed by an indented rhyming

couplet where the first 12 lines present a problem and then resolves it in the final couplet (= change in tone).

“Sonnet 130”My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun,Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.

5 I have seen roses damasked, red and white,But no such roses see I in her cheeks;And in some perfumes is there more delightThan in the breath that from my mistress reeks.I love to hear her speak. Yet well I know

10 That music hath a far more pleasing sound.I grant I never saw a goddess go;My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.

And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rareAs any she belied with false compare.


““Sonnet 29Sonnet 29””When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,I all alone beweep my outcast state I all alone beweep my outcast state And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless criesAnd trouble deaf heaven with my bootless criesAnd look upon myself and curse my fate, And look upon myself and curse my fate,

55 Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd,Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd,Desiring this man's art and that man's scope, Desiring this man's art and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least; With what I most enjoy contented least; Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

1010 Haply I think on thee, and then my state, Haply I think on thee, and then my state, Like to the lark at break of day arising Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate; For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings That then I scorn to change my state with kings. That then I scorn to change my state with kings.



Francisco Petrarch (1304-1374)Francisco Petrarch (1304-1374) Greatest Italian poet of the 14Greatest Italian poet of the 14thth century century

Petrarchan sonnet:Petrarchan sonnet: Eight-line octave (abba abba; raises a question) Eight-line octave (abba abba; raises a question) and a six-line sestet (cdecde; gives a response).and a six-line sestet (cdecde; gives a response). Wrote about Laura; an idealized, unattainable love.Wrote about Laura; an idealized, unattainable love.

““Sonnet 28Sonnet 28””

Alone, and lost in thought, the desert gladeAlone, and lost in thought, the desert gladeMeasuring I roam with lingering steps and slow;Measuring I roam with lingering steps and slow;And still a watchful glance around me throw,And still a watchful glance around me throw,Anxious to shun the print of human tread:Anxious to shun the print of human tread:

55 No other means I find, no surer aidNo other means I find, no surer aidFrom the world's prying eye to hide my woe:From the world's prying eye to hide my woe:So well my wild disorder'd gestures show,So well my wild disorder'd gestures show,And love-lorn looks, the fire within me bred,And love-lorn looks, the fire within me bred,That well I think each mountain, wood and plain,That well I think each mountain, wood and plain,

1010 And river knows, what I from man conceal,And river knows, what I from man conceal,What dreary hues my life's fool chances dim.What dreary hues my life's fool chances dim.Yet whate'er wild or savage paths I've ta'en,Yet whate'er wild or savage paths I've ta'en,Where'er I wander, love attends me still,Where'er I wander, love attends me still,Soft whisp'ring to my soul, and I to him.Soft whisp'ring to my soul, and I to him.


Author InformationAuthor InformationPastoral PoemsPastoral Poems

Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593)Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) Killed before the age of 30 in a tavern Killed before the age of 30 in a tavern

brawl in 1593; conspiracy.brawl in 1593; conspiracy. Spent college days writing and serving as Spent college days writing and serving as

a government agent.a government agent. Scoundrel; ladiesScoundrel; ladies’’ man; hothead; personal man; hothead; personal

magnetismmagnetism


Sir Walter Raleigh (1554-1618)Sir Walter Raleigh (1554-1618) Famed for being a courtier, a navigator, a poet, Famed for being a courtier, a navigator, a poet,

and a historian.and a historian. A favorite of Queen Elizabeth IA favorite of Queen Elizabeth I 1584 set up a colony in Roanoke Island, Virginia1584 set up a colony in Roanoke Island, Virginia Secretly married to the queenSecretly married to the queen’’s maid, and was s maid, and was

banished from court for four yearsbanished from court for four years Accused of treason against King James I; sent to Accused of treason against King James I; sent to

the Tower of London where he lived for 13 years.the Tower of London where he lived for 13 years.


Pastoral Poem- Pastoral Poem- lyrics that celebrates the simple pleasures of life lyrics that celebrates the simple pleasures of life

in the countryin the country ““Passionate Shepherd to His LovePassionate Shepherd to His Love””


““The NymphThe Nymph’’s Reply to the Shepherds Reply to the Shepherd”” (written in 1600, seven years after Marlowe(written in 1600, seven years after Marlowe’’s death)s death) Speaker: Tone: Theme: Rhyme scheme:

““SONNET 18SONNET 18””Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate:Thou art more lovely and more temperate:Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,And summer's lease hath all too short a date: And summer's lease hath all too short a date:

55 Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; And every fair from fair sometime declines,And every fair from fair sometime declines,By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;But thy eternal summer shall not fadeBut thy eternal summer shall not fade

1010 Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,When in eternal lines to time thou growest: When in eternal lines to time thou growest:

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,So long lives this and this gives life to thee.So long lives this and this gives life to thee.


““Sonnet 28: As good to write as for to lie and Sonnet 28: As good to write as for to lie and groan"groan"

As good to write as for to lie and groan. As good to write as for to lie and groan. O Stella dear, how much thy power hath wrought, O Stella dear, how much thy power hath wrought, That hast my mind, none of the basest, brought That hast my mind, none of the basest, brought My still-kept course, while other sleep, to moan; My still-kept course, while other sleep, to moan;

55 Alas, if from the height of virtue's throne Alas, if from the height of virtue's throne Thou canst vouchsafe the influence of a thought Thou canst vouchsafe the influence of a thought Upon a wretch that long thy grace hath sought, Upon a wretch that long thy grace hath sought, Weigh then how I by thee am overthrown; Weigh then how I by thee am overthrown; And then think thus--although thy beauty be And then think thus--although thy beauty be

1010 Made manifest by such a victory, Made manifest by such a victory, Yet noblest conquerors do wrecks avoid. Yet noblest conquerors do wrecks avoid. Since then thou hast so far subdued me, Since then thou hast so far subdued me, That in my heart I offer still to thee, That in my heart I offer still to thee, Oh, do not let thy temple be destroyed. Oh, do not let thy temple be destroyed.


“Sonnet 1”Happy ye leaves when as those lily hands,which hold my life in their dead doing mightshall handle you and hold in loves soft bands,like captives trembling at the victor’s sight.

5 And happy lines, on which with starry light,those lamping eyes will deign sometimes to lookand read the sorrows of my dying spright,written with tears in hearts close bleeding book.And happy rhymes bathed in the sacred brook,

10 of Helicon whence she derived is,when ye behold that Angels blessed look,my soul's long lacked food, my heaven’s bliss.Leaves, lines, and rhymes, seek her to please alone,whom if ye please, I care for other none.


Unit II Part I: Sonnets

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Transcript of Unit II Part I: Sonnets