English renaissance period

lyric

expresses the observations and feelings of a single speaker, is usually short, and does not tell a story

sonnet

a special kind of lyric with only 14 lines; the meter of a sonnet is usually iambic pentameter

vanacular

language of the people

apostrophe

addressing someone who is absent or can't talk back

3 kinds of sonnets

Italian, English, and Spenserian

Italian sonnet

it has two parts: an octave, the first 8 lines which raise a question, states a problem, or presents a brief narrative and a sestet, the last 6 lines which answers the question, solves the problem, or comments on the narrative.

rhyme scheme is abbaabbacdecde

rhyme scheme

a pattern of rhyme at the ends on lines, represented by letters

English sonnet

arranged in 3 quatrains with a final couplet; each quatrain explores the same theme in a different way, the couplet summarizes the entire sonnet.

rhyme scheme is ababcdcdefefgg

Spenserian sonnet

rhyme scheme is ababbcbccdcdee.

Spencer also created a 9 line stanza form for poetry

sonnet sequence

a series of sonnets written to one person or on one theme, yet each sonnet can stand alone as its own poem

pastoral poem

also called idyll, deals with the pleasures of a simple life in the country

*hint for determining the kind of sonnet

If line 5 has an a in the rhyme scheme it is - Italian or Petrarchan

If line 5 has a b in the rhyme scheme it is - Spenserian

If line 5 has a c in the rhyme scheme it is - English or Shakespearean

sonnet 1 by Sidney- Astrophel and Stella

1. Who is the "she" Sidney refers to in line 2? Why might she "take some pleasure of my [Sidney's] pain"?

An ex-girlfriend. She likes that he is upset.

2. Why does the speaker turn to "others' leaves... And others' feet"? What is he looking for?

Other poems about heartbreak to get inspiration.

3. What advice does the speaker's "Muse" give him?

Write from the heart.

4. What kind of figurative language is being used in line 10? Explain.

Personification. Invention is running away.

5. What kind of sonnet is this? Explain.

Italian. Line 5 rhymes with line 1 and 3.

sonnet 31 by Sidney

1. What is the poem's rhyme scheme? What kind of sonnet is it?

a, b, b, a, a. Italian sonnet.

2. Whom is the speaker talking to? Hint: look at line 1

Moon.

Apostrophe- talking to someone or something as if it could respond when it can't.

3. How does the speaker describe how the moon looks?

Sick and pale. It looks sad.

4. Why is the speaker "in fellowship" with the moon? In other words, what does the speaker and the moon have in common?

They're both sad over love.

5. What is "constant love"?

True love. Love that lasts.

6. What is a proud beauty?

They are proud of their beauty.

7. What does it mean to scorn love?

To be rejected.

8. The final line is a paradox. Explain it.

Ungratefulness is a virtue. She thinks it's a virtue because she is so ungrateful.

sonnet 39 by Sidney

1. What is the rhyme scheme of this poem? What kind of sonnet is it?

a, b, a, b, a. Italian.

2. Whom is the speaker talking to? Hint: look at line 1

Sleep.

3. In the first four lines of this sonnet, the speaker is listing the benefits of sleep. What are they?

Refreshment for intellect, healing woe, passing time, you can sleep if rich or poor,

4. In lines 5-8, the speaker wants sleep to do something for him. What is that?

Protect him from his feelings.

5. In ancient times, a defeated country would pay tribute to the conqueror. What is the tribute jkm,l./that the speaker will pay or give up if sleep will help him? Look at lines 9-11.

His bed, pillows, the quiet of the bedroom, no light, giving up tiredness, and making the room smell nice.

6. In the final 3 lines, the speaker has an alternative plan if sleep won't help him. How will he be with Stella (Penelope) in his sleep?

He'll dream about her.

sonnet 1 by Spenser

1. After reading Spenser's biography on page 234, what is the theme of his sonnet sequence? What is its title? What other long work is Spenser famous for writing?

He wrote about his love for his wife. Amoretti. The Farie Queene.

2. What is the rhyme scheme of Sonnet 1?

a, b, a, b, b, c, b, c, c, d, c, d, e, e. Spenserian sonnet.

3. What do the leaves, lines, and rhymes from line 13 represent?

His poetry.

4. In lines 1-4, what are Spenser's wife's "lily hands" doing?

Trembling because she is reading his poetry. Emotionally connected.

5. Why does he compare her hands to "captives trembling at the victor's sight"? What kind of figurative language is this comparison?

She is happy. Simile.

6. In lines 5-8, what does Spenser want his wife to see when she reads his poetry?

He was crying as he wrote the poem.

7. In lines 9-12, what allusion does Spenser use to describe his wife?

Helican. She is his muse.

8. In the final couplet, what does Spenser want his poetry to do?

He wants to please his wife.

sonnet 35 by Sidney

1. What is the poem's rhyme scheme?

a, b, a, b, b, c, b, c, c, d, c, d, c, e, e

2. In lines 1-4, the speaker describes his eyes as "hungry" and "greedy". What could they possibly want to see?

The wife.

3. What is the antecedent for "it" in line 5? What is the antecedent for "they" in line 5?