Poetry ToolsPoetic Form and TechniqueSonnet Tutorial
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Ted L Glines
Moderator
USA
1537 Posts |
 Posted - 10/30/2008 : 11:41:37 PM
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Sonnet Tutorial
by Ted L Glines
1)---
INTRODUCTION
The original sonnet form was invented in the 13/14th century by Dante and an Italian philosopher named Francisco Petrarch. The form remained largely unknown until it was found and developed by writers such as Shakespeare. However, Shakespeare adapted the original sonnet form to his own unique style, and under his name, during the time of King James of England, the sonnet gained great acclaim.
Two general rules apply to properly structured sonnets:
(1) Sonnets use iambic meter in each line.
(2) Sonnets use line-ending rhymes.
One iamb sounds like this: da-DUM; an unstressed sound followed by a stressed sound.
Most sonnets are written in iambic pentameter; five iambs in a line. A sonnet line written with four iambs in a line is called iambic tetrameter. An iambic trimeter contains three iambs, and an iambic heptameter contains seven iambs (sometimes called “the 14er”). A most powerful limerick can be written using a combination of these iambic styles, as follows:
Iambic pentameter
Iambic pentameter
Iambic trimeter
Iambic trimeter
Iambic pentameter
Iambic pentameter sounds like: da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM, and the words, when spoken naturally, will easily fit this metric pattern. “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain,” is an example of iambic pentameter in action.
It is easy to see, or hear, why the sonnet is called the “little song.”
EXERCISE
Say the basic iambic pentameter sound several times until you feel the rhythm of it.
“da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM,”- I think you've got it - by George, you've GOT it :-)
Now, write five lines (anything) in iambic pentameter. Now say each line in your natural voice and be positive that the whole line conforms exactly to the above iambic pentameter rhythm.
SAMPLES:
The lady made her dog go fetch his stick.
A troll was sitting underneath the bridge.
A bat flew low to catch a flitting fly.
The lightning spoke with thunder in the night.
The children love their recess time the best.
2)---
RHYME
Bookmark this: http://www.rhymezone.com/
RhymeZone Rhyming Dictionary, Thesaurus, and much more ... this will be your “Poet's Best Friend.”
Both rhyme and rhythm share a single basic purpose - they facilitate easy memorization for the reader. Think of the old songs which you still remember from many years ago; it was their rhythm and rhyme which fixed these particular songs in your long-term memory. Your poems can be just as memorable if you use these tools effectively.
Iambic meter may be the most effective reading (singing) rhythm. Combined with natural end-rhymes (end-line syllable rhymes with other end-line syllables) - can produce a highly memorable piece of writing.
For practice, we will create a 5-line poem, using iambic meter and end-rhymes. We will use two different iambic meters, pentameter (5 iambs), and trimeter (3 iambs). We will use two different rhyme sounds, (a) and (b). Lines 1, 2, and 5 will use rhyme sound (a) in iambic pentameter. Lines 3 and 4 will use rhyme sound (b) in iambic trimeter. You would write the rhyme pattern for this poem thus: aabba. It looks like this:
da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM (a) iambic pentameter
da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM (a) iambic pentameter
da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM (b) iambic trimeter
da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM (b) iambic trimeter
da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM (a) iambic pentameter
A limerick is easy and fun. A limerick can also be made memorable.
One item worth noting: Iambic meter is a basic heartbeat rhythm. In effect, you will set the rhythm pace of your reader and he will be pulled forward through your poem, and this is a powerful tool when you wish to accentuate certain ideas or images.
EXERCISE
Write a limerick using the iambic meters and end-rhyme patterns as shown above. Use your RhymeZone (http://www.rhymezone.com/) to find the best, and possibly unique, rhymes. Sound out each line in your natural voice to assure that your line conforms exactly to the iambic meter shown above.
SAMPLE
Error
by Ted L Glines
A girl of Error ran to hell today,
she thought her man had scorned her loving way,
he wondered why she left,
he was not too bereft,
she never knew her man was really gay.
3)---
SONNET RULES
General rules apply to properly structured sonnets:
(1) Sonnets use iambic meter in each line.
(2) Sonnets use line-ending rhymes.
(3) A Shakespearean sonnet has 14 iambic pentameter lines and an end-line rhyme pattern which may be variable.
(4) A Petrarchan sonnet has 14 iambic pentameter lines in two parts (octave and sestet) and an end-line rhyme pattern which is fixed. The octave (first eight lines) has a rhyme pattern of abbaabba; three rhymed couplets in the body of the octave. The sestet (final six lines) will not contain a couplet. My Petrarchan sonnets use a sestet rhyme pattern of cdedce. Also, in a Petrarchan sonnet, the octave will state the problem, and the sestet will give the answer or solution.
Because the Petrarchan Sonnet has such clearly defined structural rules, it may be the easiest of the sonnet forms to learn.
4)---
SONNET EXERCISE
We will now write a 14-line sonnet using iambic pentameter and rhymed line endings. A will rhyme with A; B will rhyme with B; C will rhyme with C; and so on.
Use your rhyming dictionary: http://www.rhymezone.com/
Sounding out iambic pentameter: da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM
Make sure that each of your lines exactly conforms to this sound/beat easily, without sounding forced. In lines 1 thru 8 (octave), you will be using rhymed couplets. In lines 9 thru 14 (sestet), you will be using rhymed line-endings but no couplets. The following outline is provided to assist you in following this sonnet structure:
01-A...
02-B...
03-B...
04-A...
05-A...
06-B...
07-B...
08-A...
09-C...
10-D...
11-E...
12-D...
13-C...
14-E...
EXAMPLE:
01-A...He poked the tiger with a stick today,
02-B...the boy enjoyed this game with utter glee,
03-B...to poke the mighty tiger in his tree,
04-A...the tiger always jumped and ran away,
05-A...he viewed the boy with anger and dismay,
06-B...the famous boy was having quite a spree,
07-B...and all who watched could solidly agree,
08-A...the tiger's pride was lost in disarray.
09-C...The boy continued with his rude offense,
10-D...the tiger frowned and thought the boy was bad,
11-E...an awkward truth was lurking underneath,
12-D...it isn't nice to make a tiger mad
13-C...and boys with pride are lacking common sense,
14-E...then came the day he learned about the TEETH.
You have now written a sonnet which conforms to the rules of this exercise. Was it difficult? If so, be assured that practice will make it effortless. Be aware that sonnets are not limited to 14 lines, and also not limited to this couplet design (as presented in the exercise). You may feel free to design your own unique sonnet styling, so long as each line is done in iambic meter, and so long as you do use a pattern of rhymed line-endings.
A well-turned sonnet will enhance your chances of having many magazine editors accept your poem for publication.
Good writing to you. We will be looking for you in print! |
Ted L Glines
The Writing Forum - Coordinator
http://www.thewritingforum.net
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Wendy Cooper
Moderator
USA
1715 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2008 : 08:14:39 AM
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| Ahh Shakepeare would be proud of you...nice job. Ever think of teaching poetry at a night school? |
Wendy Baral Cooper
www.TheWritingForum.net |
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Ted L Glines
Moderator
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2008 : 10:12:06 AM
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Actually, Petrarch would probably like me better, or maybe even Dante, because it is their original forms which I follow. I would love to have a poetry workshop, though, working with other writers of various levels. That would be fun and energizing  |
Ted L Glines
The Writing Forum - Coordinator
http://www.thewritingforum.net
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miccy
Moderator
USA
628 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2008 : 1:44:38 PM
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| hey we read a sonnet in class i forgot what it was but i liked it |
maria caldwell was soo not here |
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Wendy Cooper
Moderator
USA
1715 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2008 : 08:24:18 AM
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Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Ted is less hot, and less humid :-) |
Wendy Baral Cooper
www.TheWritingForum.net |
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Still waiting
Junior Member
57 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2009 : 5:41:41 PM
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| Wow you explained it really well! We did it in class to. There's also 10 syllables in each line. |
As the Monty Python brothers always say- "never expect a spanish inquisition!" |
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