Background information on Sonnets and 7th Grade Sonnet Assignment.

1. Introduction to
Sonnets
Literature 7
Mr. Lopez

2. What is a sonnet?

3. What is a sonnet?
Italian word “sonnetto” = a little song

4. What is a sonnet?
Italian word “sonnetto” = a little song
Started in Italy, moved across world

5. What is a sonnet?
Italian word “sonnetto” = a little song
Started in Italy, moved across world
Popular during Shakespeare’s time

6. What is a sonnet?
Italian word “sonnetto” = a little song
Started in Italy, moved across world
Popular during Shakespeare’s time
17th century (1600s)

7. Sonnet Structure

8. Sonnet Structure
3 quatrains + 1 couplet =

9. Sonnet Structure
3 quatrains + 1 couplet =
14 lines total

10. Sonnet Structure
3 quatrains + 1 couplet =
14 lines total
Iambic Pentameter = 10 syllables per line

11. Sonnet Structure
3 quatrains + 1 couplet =
14 lines total
Iambic Pentameter = 10 syllables per line
Rhyme scheme:

12. Sonnet Structure
3 quatrains + 1 couplet =
14 lines total
Iambic Pentameter = 10 syllables per line
Rhyme scheme:
a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-g

13. Sample Sonnet:

14. Sample Sonnet:
In every breath she took with me, I saw

15. Sample Sonnet:
In every breath she took with me, I saw
Light, dark and air beneath her smiling soul.

16. Sample Sonnet:
In every breath she took with me, I saw
Light, dark and air beneath her smiling soul.
With every word my parted lips turn raw

17. Sample Sonnet:
In every breath she took with me, I saw
Light, dark and air beneath her smiling soul.
With every word my parted lips turn raw
She pours my love like soup into a bowl.

18. How to Write a Sonnet:

19. How to Write a Sonnet:
1. Think of an idea/situation

20. How to Write a Sonnet:
1. Think of an idea/situation
being in love/wanting love

21. How to Write a Sonnet:
1. Think of an idea/situation
being in love/wanting love
not getting love/frustration

22. How to Write a Sonnet:
1. Think of an idea/situation
being in love/wanting love
not getting love/frustration
Faith/ family or friend love

23. 2. Cluster or freewrite to get ideas

24. 2. Cluster or freewrite to get ideas
Don’t write to see what you get

25. 2. Cluster or freewrite to get ideas
Don’t write to see what you get
Focus on an idea

26. 2. Cluster or freewrite to get ideas
Don’t write to see what you get
Focus on an idea
Remember you will revise/edit later

27. 3. Begin with the rhyme
scheme on the right side
of your paper

28. a
b
3. Begin with the rhyme a
b
scheme on the right side
c
of your paper d
c
d
e
f
e
f
g
g

29. 4. Write the lines first, then count the meter
(syllables)

30. 4. Write the lines first, then count the meter
(syllables)
5. Remember that the couplet must
be like a punchline/a “twist”

31. 4. Write the lines first, then count the meter
(syllables)
5. Remember that the couplet must
be like a punchline/a “twist”
So then my girl says “Hey! Let’s just be
friends”
And where my love began, It comes to end.

32. Give your sonnet a title

33. Give your sonnet a title
Titles help reader

34. Give your sonnet a title
Titles help reader
Titles giver a preview of your poem

35. Give your sonnet a title
Titles help reader
Titles giver a preview of your poem
May be a figure of speech

36. Give your sonnet a title
Titles help reader
Titles giver a preview of your poem
May be a figure of speech
First draft must be written in Comp. book