English Sonnet Basics Trivia Quiz

Answer: Italy

Sonnets began in Italy. Most people credit England, because of Shakespeare, since he perfected the poetry form. The Italian sonnet is different from the English sonnet in that is has two parts or two quatrains. The rhyme is typically different as well in that it is a "abba" in the first quatrain and a variety of "cd" combinations for the second quatrain.

Answer: 14

An English sonnet has 14 lines--three quatrains and one couplet. A quatrain is made up of four lines and a couplet is two rhyming lines. The rhyme scheme is an important aspect of forming the English sonnet, as it divides the lines into three distinct parts followed by the couplet, which acts as a summation or final thought to the sonnet.

Answer: 10

Ideally, a sonnet line contains ten syllables: five unstressed and five stressed. Although most people don't emphasize the unstressed/stressed beat, should they recite the sonnet out loud, the beat does come through. It's more or less a ta-Tum ta-Tum ta-Tum ta-Tum ta-Tum beat when the sonnet is read.

Answer: iambic

Iambic pentameter is referred to as the "heartbeat" meter since its rhythm pattern when sounded out is like that of the human heart beating. It's said that Shakespeare used this meter to bring his words close to the hearts of his audience. It's also easier to memorize lines when set to a beat, and many of his play lines were set to the iambic to help the actors memorize their parts.

Answer: 5

Each unstressed and stressed beat is counted as one iamb. The number of feet is determined by the number of stressed beats. For instance, the first line of Sonnet 29 (the stressed beat is capitalized):

"When, IN disGRACE with FORtune AND men's EYES,..."

count the stressed beats and you will get five.

Answer: ababcdcdefefgg

The English sonnet consists of three quatrains: abab cdcd efef and then it ends with a couplet gg. This is quite different than the Italian sonnet, which only has two quatrains and uses a variety of rhyme scheme combinations, especially in the second quatrain.

Answer: true

The majority of sonnets focus on a question, as in Sonnet 18: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" There can also be a conflict, as found in Sonnet 29, where the author struggles with the emotions of discontent. The couplet usually answers the question or puts to rest the conflict with an ending thought.

Answer: Shakespearean

English sonnets are also known as Shakespearean sonnets because Shakespeare perfected the form. Shakespeare is credited with creating around 1700 words in the English language. He needed to fit the rhyme scheme and meter beat/feet and so he would make words fit the needed syllable count. The words weren't necessarily fabricated, he would sometimes add a letter or make it another part of speech as in "flawed" which he used as an adjective in "King Lear." He would also take words used in other languages or dredge up old Greek or Latin usage.

Answer: turn

The turn comes usually near the late middle, the third quatrain, or even in the couplet. The turn indicates a significant change in attitude in the sonnet. For instance, in Sonnet 130, Shakespeare sounds like he is making fun of his love's looks, that he does not find her attractive at all. The turn comes in the couplet when he states:
"And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare."

The "and yet" signifies the change. He thinks she's pretty special, even though she might not be cover girl material.

Answer: false

Sonnets 1-126 are actually dedicated to a young man. Shakespeare's sonnets to this young man express his admiration for him, and they leave a lasting testimony, much like an author dedicates a book to someone, or a film is dedicated to a person. Shakespeare's sonnets to this young man are an example of Shakespeare's time and culture, how men openly admired men, without there having to be a sexual overtone.

The second half of Shakespeare's sonnets are dedicated to a "dark lady."