Utah Education Network (UEN)
8th Grade Poetry: Sonnet Poem
The third instructional activity of five in an eighth-grade poetry unit has young scholars comparing Shakespearean sonnets with Petrarchan sonnets. To begin, they examine the different structures of the two forms and their different...
Livaudais-Baker English Classroom
An Introduction to Sonnets
What is 14 lines long, written in iambic pentameter, and follows a predetermined rhyme scheme? Introduce scholars to the sonnet, one of the most famous of the fixed-form types of poetry, with a 10-slide presentation that includes the...
Utah Education Network (UEN)
8th Grade Poetry: Assess
Eighth graders craft a Petrarchan sonnet and respond to a performance assessment to demonstrate what they have learned in this five-lesson plan poetry unit.
Curated OER
Exploring the Sonnet
Pupils research English/Shakespearean and Italian/Petrarchan sonnet forms. They write an original sonnet on their preferred form (English or Italian), write the poem on the wordprocessor and publish and post it on the net at the Sonnet...
Curated OER
Superb Sonnets
Students identify and compare the characteristics of both Italian and English sonnets. They read examples of each, then write an original sonnet in either the Italian or English style.
Curated OER
Sonnet Project
Twelfth graders use the internet to examine how the Gutenberg press affected society as a whole. Using examples of illuminated type, they develop type in three different formats. They share their types with the class and answer...
Curated OER
Spenser, Shakespeare, and the "Blazon": Lesson 4
Students discuss the meaning and tone of Shakespeare's Sonnet 130. In this sonnets lesson, students compare Spenser's sonnets to Shakespeare's. Students discuss specific words that add to the humor in Shakespeare's sonnet,...
Curated OER
Keats' Poems by John Keats
In this literature worksheet, students respond to 41 short answer and essay questions about poetry by John Keats. Students may also link to an online interactive quiz on the selections at the bottom of the page.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: English Renaissance: Sonnets
This lesson focuses on the sonnet including the definition, the history, the types of, and meters. It features the three types of sonnets: Italian/Petrarchan Sonnet, English/Shakespearean Sonnet, and Spenserian Sonnet. It describes the...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Sounds of the Sonnet
"Sound Experiments" drive this lesson plan. Sonnet analysis is accompanied by readings based on specific emotions. At this website, there are several links full-text sonnets by such authors as Shakespeare, Lord Byron, Longfellow, and...
University of Victoria (Canada)
The U Vic Writer's Guide: Literary Term: Sonnet
The University of Victoria's English department gives a comprehensive definition of the "sonnet" poetic form.
Folger Shakespeare Library
Juliet vs Laura: Analyzing Sonnet Structure in Romeo and Juliet
This lesson plan asks learners to access their knowledge of sonnet characteristics to analyze the shared sonnet of Romeo's and Juliet's first meeting to determine the extent to which Juliet meets the Petrarchan ideal.
Other
Petrarch and Laura: Peter Sadlon: How to Write a Sonnet [Pdf]
This is an 8-page PDF article on "How to Write a Sonnet" by Peter Sadlon. It provides background information about sonnets, discusses the two main kinds of sonnet Italian or Petrarchan form and English or Shakespearean form. It explains...
University of Victoria (Canada)
University of Victoria: Sir Thomas Wyatt
This resource reveals that Sir Thomas Wyatt was a pioneer in bringing to English poetry the new forms of the Italian Renaissance, especially the Petrarchan sonnet. Related resources and links.
Maine Historical Society
Maine Historical Society: Longfellow and the American Sonnet
"The Cross of Snow" is examined in this lesson plan, which includes background information and discussion questions.
Other
Bob's Byway: Glossary of Poetic Terms
Calling itself "unique," Bob's is easy to use, with cross-links throughout, phonetic pronunciation guides when necessary, and many examples and quotations. Click on the letter and scroll for the word.
Virtual Salt
Virtual Salt: A Glossary of Literary Terms
This site provides a long list of literary terms complete with full definitions and examples.