The Features of a Shakespearean Sonnet
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Key learning points
- In this lesson, we will learn about some of the features of the Shakespearean sonnet. We will read Shakespeare's 'Sonnet 130' and identify key sonnet features within it, such as the rhyme scheme, the use of quatrains and the overall length of the poem.
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7 Questions
Q1.
Which of these features would you always expect to see in every poem?
Perfect grammar
Repetition
Rhyme
Q2.
Is there one standard definition of poetry?
Yes
Q3.
Which of these topics could you come across in a sonnet?
Love
Nature
Religion
Q4.
Which country did sonnets originate in?
England
France
Rome
Q5.
Which of these writers is know for writing sonnets?
Charles Dickens
Charlotte Bronte
Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle
Q6.
Are Shakespearean and Petrarchan sonnets the same?
No - Shakespeare didn't write sonnets, he was a playwright.
No - they are completely different
Yes - they are identical
Q7.
Do sonnets have a specific structure?
No
7 Questions
Q1.
How many lines are there in a Shakespearean sonnet?
10
28
It's different every time
Q2.
Which of the below explanations best describes a rhyme scheme?
A rhyme scheme is the number of lines in the poem.
A rhyme scheme is the rhythm of the poem.
A rhyme scheme is the sounds in the poem.
Q3.
Which of the below rhyme schemes is correct for a Shakespearean sonnet?
AABBCCDDEEFFGG
ABBABBACDECDE
ABCABCEFGEFGGG
Q4.
There are 3 _______________ in a Shakespearean sonnet.
quarters
quartets
quatres
Q5.
The final two lines of a Shakespearean sonnet share an end rhyme and are called _________________.
a couple of rhymes
a rhyme
a rhyming pair
Q6.
Which of the descriptions below is the correct definition of a 'volta' in poetry?
A change in the rhyme scheme
A repeated idea
The number of lines in the poem
Q7.
Where does the volta occur in a Shakespearean sonnet?
After each quatrain
At the start
Between lines 4 and 5