Part Five
Composing Sonnets
One way to conclude this lesson cycle is to have students compose their own sonnets.
Instructions for the Creative Writing Project:
Write an original sonnet about someone or something you feel strongly about, either negatively or positively. The subject (focus) of this poem could be a person you know personally, an historical figure, a place you've been, or anything else you feel strong enough about to commemorate through a sonnet.Who knows? One day your sonnet may be included in a high school textbook, along with the poems of William Shakespeare!
Suggestions
- Choose a limited subject: Narrow your focus to one particular person, place or thing.
- Brainstorming and Pre-writing: Make a list of important details about this person, place or thing. As you describe your subject, use sensory images: how he, she or it , looks, sounds, feels, smells etc.
- Check off the descriptive details you feel are the most distinctive or important.
- Choose a rhyme scheme for your poem (either Italian or English).
- Composing the poem: Incorporate as many descriptive details about your subject as possible, while keeping to the rhyme scheme you have chosen.
- How were you affected? Don't forget to include your own personal reactions to the subject or experience. This subjective element is perhaps the most important element in creating an effective sonnet.
- You are free to incorporate old fashioned language in your poem (i.e. words such as "thou, "thine" and "thee;" and the "eth" verb ending, as in maketh, loveth, etc.). This will give your poem an antique touch. But you also can create a more modern sounding poem incorporating modern slang.
It's your choice! Do as "your muse" inspires you!
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