聊城大学外国语学院英国文学史与选读课件 Shakespeares Sonnets.ppt

Sonnet Sonnet--- a short poem of 14 lines, usually in iambic pentameter with a fixed rhyme scheme. Sonnet Originated in Italy in 13th C; came to perfection in the hands of Dante and Petrarch; introduced into England by Thomas Wyatt in 16th c. Traditional themes: love, friendship, poetry Two main types of sonnet 1. The Petrarchan or Italian sonnet; containing two parts, an octave ( 8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines). Rhyme scheme: abbaabba cdecde. 2. The Shakespearean or English sonnet; consisting 3 quatrains and a couplet, with the rhyme scheme abab cdcd efef gg Shakespeare’s sonnets 154 sonnets: Shakespeare’s sonnets tell the story of his troubled relationships with two deeply flawed lovers: a young man and a dark lady. Shakespeare’s sonnets 1-126 addressed to a young man, beloved of the poet, of superior beauty and rank but of somewhat questionable morals and constancy . love, admiration, jealousy Shakespeare’s sonnets 127-152 to a mysterious “Dark Lady”, who is sensual, promiscuous, and irresistible Love, contempt, disgust 153-154 translation or adaptations of some Greek epigram Texts study 2. Sonnet 18 of Shakespeare “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day” Meter and Rhyme scheme: abab cdcd efef gg Sonnet 18 of Shakespeare Theme : Beautiful things can be made eternal by poetry. Sonnet 18 of Shakespeare Structure proposal (1-2) argument (3-12) conclusion(13-14) Sonnet 29 of Shakespeare Quatrain 1 describes the poet’s despair; Quatrain 2 tells what the poet envies in others that he does not have himself. Quatrain 3 indicates how the poet relieves his despair by remembering his friend’s love. The couplet summarizes the sonnet and best expresses the theme: I realize how lucky I am when I remember I have your love. Love is a compensation for the poet’s lack of status and success.