Sonnets 101 and Shakespeare
A sonnet is a fourteen line poem written in iambic pentameter.
(Each line has 10 syllables that follow a unstressed/stressed pattern)
It comes from the Italian word for “little song”…
Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets!
There are two major types of sonnets, which are:
1. Shakespearean or Elizabethan Sonnet (these will be used in​ Romeo and Juliet​)
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This type of sonnet has 14 lines, each containing 10​ ​syllables written in iambic pentameter.
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The rhyme pattern for this sonnet is ​a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-g​; the last two lines are a rhyming
couplet.
2. Italian or Petrachan Sonnet
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This type of sonnet has two parts, a octave with 8 lines with ​a-b-b-a a-b-b-a​ rhyming and then a
sestet with 6 lines and a different rhyming pattern.
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The change in rhyme scheme indicates a change in mood or meaning.
This change is called the volta or turn.
Romeo and Juliet​ Prologue Analysis
The Prologue: a sonnet which opens the play by introducing the ​setting​ and ​summarizing​ the plot.
Under the original Shakespeare line​, ​paraphrase​ what is being said. Then, answer the questions at the end of
the activity.
“Two households, both alike in dignity,
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In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
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1
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny ,
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2
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
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3
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
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A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
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4
5
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
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Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
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The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
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1
Mutiny-war, uprising, rebellion
Civil-nonmilitary, civilian in nature, also “civilized”
3
Loins-upper thighs/groin area (not ​lions​!)
4
Unfortunate
5
Rebellions
2
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
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Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
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Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
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The which if you with patient ears attend,
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What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
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1. Infer:​ What can you infer about the setting of the play from the Prologue? In which lines did you find
this information?
2. Apply:​ How did knowing this information before reading help you better understand the play?
3. Analyze:​ Why do you think Shakespeare chose to give his audience this information prior to watching
the play?
Romeo and Juliet Meet at the Ball
Below are lines from Act I, Scene IV when R&J finally meet each other and share their first words.
ROMEO:
[To JULIET] If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
JULIET:
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.
ROMEO:
Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
JULIET:
Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
ROMEO:
O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
JULIET:
Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.
ROMEO:
Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
(They kiss.)
1. Count the lines. How many are there?
2. Label the rhyme scheme.
3. Count the syllables in each line. How many are there (roughly) in each line? Some words would have been
pronounced shorter than we do now.
4. SO what is this? It’s a poem. What type?
5. This is called the: ______________________________________________.
6. In this poem, R&J use a lot of traditional Catholic imagery. List some of these words:
7. Underline or highlight similes and metaphors.
8. What “red flags” or warning signs are raised here, in their first meeting? How can we already see that things
might go wrong for this couple?
9. Why do you think Shakespeare used this type of poetic structure to frame Romeo and Juliet’s first interaction
in the play?
10. What is your opinion of ​Romeo and Juliet​ so far?