Approaching sonnets. Break it into smaller chunks (quatrains & couplets) Translate/paraphrase into your own words Reread the sonnet

Transcription

1 Sonnets - formula Format 3 quatrains (4 lines of text) 1 couplet (2 lines of text) What do they do? The first quatrain establishes the main idea (what the sonnet is about) The second and third quatrains elaborate on this further Couplet provides the resolution of the sonnet, where the author will resolve whatever the main idea/conflict is.

2 Approaching sonnets Break it into smaller chunks (quatrains & couplets) Translate/paraphrase into your own words Reread the sonnet

3 SONNET 130 My mistress eyes

4 Step 1: Read through the sonnet Carefully and slowly read the sonnet. On your first read, you want to get a general idea for what the sonnet is about. ***You will need to read a sonnet multiple times in order to properly analyze it***

5 My mistress eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips red If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hair be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damask d red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground: And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare. damask d =the colors of Belied =misrepresented

6 Step 2: Determine the main idea Write a line dividing the 3 quatrains of the poem. On the right, write a summary detailing what that section is discussing. You will need to reread in order to do so. You are encouraged to translate the poem into modern day English. Your summary should demonstrate that you understand what the sonnet is saying in each line.

7 Quatrain one My mistress eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips red If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hair be wires, black wires grow on her head. He is describing how his mistress looks, and is not complimentary. My mistress s eyes look nothing like the sun The color coral is more red than her lips Since snow is the color white, her breasts then are a dirty color (not white) If hair can be called a wire, that s what her black hair looks like)

8 Quatrain two I have seen roses damask d red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. He continues to describe how his mistress is not pretty, and other flaws she has. I have seen red and white roses But there aren t any in her cheeks (ie. They are neither red nor white) Some perfumes smell, but they are nicer than my mistress breath.

9 Quatrain three I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground: He continues to describe how his mistress is not pretty, and other flaws she has. While I like to hear her speak, I know that her voice is not as pretty as music. I also have never seen a goddess walk by Because my mistress walks on the ground (and is normal)

10 Couplet And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare. Despite all the fake, flowery things people say about their lovers, I love my mistress for who she is, not all the fancy things I can say about her; and that proves I love her more than flatters. And yet, by God, I think my love is just as special As any you can describe with false descriptions/flattery.

11 Step 3: Analysis Now that you have a basic understanding of the sonnet, go back and identify literary/rhetorical devices on the left side of the sonnet. Ex. He uses figurative language in Quatrain 1 to describe what his mistress looks like.

12 Step 4: Determine meaning You will need to determine purpose, meaning, theme, etc. in analysis. Use your annotations to answer the questions on the sonnet with your partner.

13 My mistress eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips red If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hair be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damask d red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground: And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.

14 Sonnet 130 Comprehension Check Using your notes, independently answer the multiple choice questions on the sonnet.