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The Worlds of the Renaissance: Projects

The Evolution of the Renaissance Sonnet

A Lesson Cycle Surveying the Changing Styles of the Sonnet Tradition From Petrarch to Shakespeare to Wordsworth

Russell H. Goldenberg
Irvin High School, El Paso, Texas

Teaching Objective:

This unit is designed to give students in a British Literature course an in depth understanding of the Western literary form known as the "sonnet" and how it has evolved. This goal will be achieved by guiding students through a close reading of selected Petrarchan, Shakespearean and Wordsworthan sonnets. In comparing and contrasting these three diverse poetic styles, students should be able to see how the sonnet has changed in form and content over time.

Overview of Lesson Cycle:

• Part One: Introduction to the literary form: What is a sonnet?
• Part Two: Italian Origins: Petrarch's Canzoniere
  • Sonnets from Petrarch's Canzoniere
  • Sonetto CLXXXI
  • Sonetto CXXXII
  • Sonetto XC
  • Sonetto XX
• Part Three: English Imitation and Innovation: The Sonnets of William Shakespeare
  • The Sonnets of William Shakespeare
  • Teaching Shakespeare's Sonnets
  • Sonnet 18
  • Sonnet 29
  • Sonnet 55
  • Sonnet 116
  • Sonnet 130
  • Shakespearean vs. Petrarchan
• Part Four: William Wordsworth's Romantic Sonnets: The Love Affair with the World
  • Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802
  • It is a Beauteous Evening, Calm and Free
• Part Five: Creative Writing Project: Composing a Sonnet
• Works Cited
• Bibliography

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