Literature 3.1 Amoretti Sonnet 75

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• Leerjaar 4

Literature 1

Diever 23 - 24

Edmund Spenser (1552 - 1599)

William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)

Edmund Spenser

(1552 - 1599)

Periods of British Literature

Renaissance = also called 'Early Modern Period'

Lesson goal

At the end of this class you are able to:

• analyse a sonnet;
• describe the use of literary  tools in the work;
• recognise Edmund Spenser's context;
• place the work of Spenser in the greater context of English literature;
• describe the content and meaning of the sonnet discussed.

Edmund Spenser

(1552 - 1599)

Literary language 

Rhyme 

Spenserian / English sonnet

Turn - volta

Alliteration

Metaphor

Spenserian: in last 2 lines, turn

abab bcbc cdcd ee.

Petrarchan 8 - 6: after line 8 

abba abba cde cde/cdcdcd

Shakespearean 3 quatrains and a couplet

abab, cdcd, efef, gg

Sonnet

A fixed verse form consisting of fourteen lines, usuallin in iambic pentameter.

English sonnet: four quatrains (= 4 lines) and a couplet (=2 lines)

Italian sonnet: octave (= 8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines).

Language

Perspective: the speaker is in conversation with his loved one about his wish to immortalise her.

Style and tone: light, conversation-like. 

Literary language 

Explicit vs. implicit meaning

Spenserian: in last 2 lines, turn

abab bcbc cdcd ee.

Petrarchan 8 - 6: after line 8 

abba abba cde cde/cdcdcd

Shakespearean 3 quatrains and a couplet

abab, cdcd, efef, gg

Explicit meaning

De letterlijke betekenis van het gedicht: hij houdt zoveel van zijn geliefde dat hij haar graag onsterfelijk wil maken door haar naam en haar deugden vast te leggen. Eerst probeert hij dit te doen in het zand, maar als dat niet blijkt te werken, kiest hij ervoor ze in zijn gedicht(en) te benoemen. 

Spenserian: in last 2 lines, turn

abab bcbc cdcd ee.

Petrarchan 8 - 6: after line 8 

abba abba cde cde/cdcdcd

Shakespearean 3 quatrains and a couplet

abab, cdcd, efef, gg

Implicit meaning

Niet de letterlijke betekenis, maar de betekenis die je eruit af kunt leiden, die onder de oppervlakte ligt.

De spreker zegt eigenlijk dat zijn gedichten de kracht hebben om iets voor eeuwig vast te leggen. Ze hebben eeuwigheidswaarde. 

Spenserian: in last 2 lines, turn

abab bcbc cdcd ee.

Petrarchan 8 - 6: after line 8 

abba abba cde cde/cdcdcd

Shakespearean 3 quatrains and a couplet

abab, cdcd, efef, gg

Assignment

In your reading diary:

Write the name of the author and the title of the poem

Answer the following questions:

1. What would the function of this particular poem be?

2. Would you use poetry in this way? Why? Why not?

3. Answer the other questions as described in your booklet.

Homework

Find a sonnet, analyse its rhyme scheme and indicate what kind of a sonnet it is. 

Print it, (or write it down) bring it to class and add it to your diary. 

Read  'The Model Millionaire', link is on SOM, or in your booklet.