The Sonnet Flashcards
Where does the word ‘sonnet’ come from?
The Italian word ‘sonetto’ meaning a small or little song or lyric
How many lines does a sonnet generally have?
14
How many syllables does a line of a sonnet have?
10
What is a ‘volta’?
It is a specific turn in a sonnet. There may be a change in time, change in perspective or the poet may start talking about something more meaningful
Sonnets can be categorised into 6 major types. What are they?
Italian/Petrarchan Sonnet Shakespearean Sonnet Spenserian Sonnet Miltonic Sonnet Terza Rima Sonnet Curtal Sonnet
How many lines does a Petrarchan/Italian sonnet have?
14
What is a Petrarchan/Italian sonnet made up of?
An octet (8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines)
In a Petrarchan/Italian sonnet, the first stanza or the ______ is often ______
In a Petrarchan/Italian sonnet, the first stanza or the octet is often descriptive
In a Petrarchan/Italian sonnet, the second stanza or the ______ is often ______
In a Petrarchan/Italian sonnet, the second stanza or the sestet is often reflective and more meaningful
What is the rhyme scheme of a Petrarchan/Italian sonnet? (usually)
The octet usually follows abba-abba,while the sestet has arange of rhyming schemes
Describe the first stanza of Heaney’s ‘When All the Others Were Away at Mass’
1st stanza is a comfortable silence. Focuses on the bits of peel splashing in the water. It’s very descriptive. All about sounds.
Describe the second stanza of Heaney’s ‘When All the Others Were Away at Mass’
There is achange in the sestet. There is a change in time. It goes from a childhood memory to the present where the mother is dying. There is a change in tone. Its much more chaotic and sad compared to the octet. It’s more meaningful.
How does Heaney’s use of punctuation influence his poem ‘When All the Others Were Away at Mass’?
The first stanza is broken up by lots of punctuation and so is very calm, slow and peaceful. The lack of punctuation in the second stanza makes the poem very busy, fast and frantic. It almost tumbles towards the end
Shakespearean sonnets are generally written in __________
iambic pentameter
How many syllables are in each line of a Shakespearean sonnet?
10
