Sonnets

Here's some links and videos to help us write sonnets in Term 3:
Here's a link to all of Shakepeare's sonnets.



This is Shakepeare's most well-known sonnet, Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? It has been put to music arranged by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.



And here's a rap version of Sonnet 18.



Here's another  sonnet which is less well known, put to music by Rufus Wainwright. You might find it difficult to understand to start with, but look for the rhyming words and rhyme pattern, and see if you can work out what  message Shakespeare is giving.




Here's another version of it, as background music for a montage of scenes from the movie 'Pride and Prejudice'.  See if these images help you better understand the feeling behind the words.

Here's the words of Sonnet 29 (on the left) and paraphrased (on the right). 

When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,	When I’ve fallen out of favor with fortune and men,
I all alone beweep my outcast state	All alone I weep over my position as a social outcast,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries	And pray to heaven, but my cries go unheard,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,	And I look at myself, cursing my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,	Wishing I were like one who had more hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd,	Wishing I looked like him; wishing I were surrounded by friends,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,	Wishing I had this man's skill and that man's freedom.
With what I most enjoy contented least;	I am least contented with what I used to enjoy most.
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,	But, with these thoughts – almost despising myself,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,	I, by chance, think of you and then my melancholy
Like to the lark at break of day arising	Like the lark at the break of day, rises
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;	From the dark earth and (I) sing hymns to heaven;
For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings	For thinking of your love brings such happiness
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.	That then I would not change my position in life with kings.

Here's a fun song about William Shakespeare's contributions to English language we use today.


Another fun video using Shakespeare's insults.


More words from Shakespeare that we still use today.


How to write a sonnet.