An English Sonnet (and What It Is)
Howdy, Readers!
I recently read Julius Caesar by Shakespeare for school, and Mom gave me a challenge.
A) She wanted me to find out what a sonnet was, and
B) She wanted me to write one of my own!
What is an English sonnet?
An English sonnet is a poem with specifications.
An English sonnet is 14 lines long with 10 syllables per line.
The rhyme scheme for an English sonnet is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
The Merriam Webster dictionary puts it this way:
(A quatrain is a group of four lines. I looked it up.)
I’ll use one of Shakespeare’s sonnets to give a visual example. (I got the idea for a visual example from the Young Writers website, which was extremely informative, while not massively overwhelming. You can see their definition here.)
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
A) Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
B) Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
A) Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
B) And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.
C) Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
D) And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
C) And every fair from fair sometime declines,
D) By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimmed;
E) But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
F) Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,
E) Nor shall death brag thou wand’rest in his shade,
F) When in eternal lines to Time thou grow’st.
G) So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
G) So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
As you can see, sonnets take a bit of thought.
Part A is done. Now it’s time to show you the sonnet I wrote.
A Rescue Sonnet
Ellie Cummins
The talons of the clammy cold did grip
Upon her heart with palpitating force.
The paleness, stillness, fearfulness did drip
To taunt her in her lost, forgotten course.
The lonely, aching frightfulness remained,
And with each passing moment ripped her heart.
She sank, despondent; felt herself be chained.
With knowledge that the pain would never part.
Dry your tears! See the rescue taking place!
Watch blood flow, hear the suff’ring in His voice.
Look up, and watch the Savior in His grace,
Who dies to give you freedom as a choice.
The chains that held you captive are unbound.
Now go and live the life that you have found!
So in the end, I was able to accept Mom’s challenge and learn something new.
Thanks, Mom. 🙂
What do you think of English sonnets? What do you think of “A Rescue Sonnet”?
Talk to you soon,
Ellie
I’m studying poetry too! It must have been tough to write a sonnet! Great job 🙂
Haha! Thanks so much, Gracie!! Miss you.
This is so cool and I love ur blog!!
Thank you bunches, Cassidy. I miss you!
Um um um–just keeps getting better. Graceful sonnet with a most important message. Luv u G’ma
Thank you, Grandma! Love you, too! So glad we’re close by.
Great lesson! Thanks!
Have you made it to the sunny south! Have a great adventure!
Lovepat
Great lesson! Thanks! Loved your sonnet too.
Have you made it to the sunny south? Enjoy your adventure!
Lovepat
Wow! I liked it so much I posted about it twice! Lucky you! LP
Haha! Thank you so much, Mrs. Pat! We’ve made it to South Carolina, and I’m writing this on my bed in my new room. I like it here a lot. It’s definitely warmer! 😀 Thank you! We will. I have a feeling this is the beginning of a new and beautiful adventure! Hope we can see you sometime soon!