ENGLISH 2201: Poetry Unit

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Leslie Johnston
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1 ENGLISH 2201: Poetry Unit SONNET #1 When I do count the clock that tells the time, And see the brave day sunk in hideous night; 2 When I behold the violet past prime, And sable curls 1 all silver'd o'er with white; 4 When lofty trees I see barren of leaves Which erst from heat did canopy the herd, 6 And summer's green all girded 2 up in sheaves 3 Borne on the bier 4 with white and bristly beard, 8 Then of thy beauty do I question make, That thou among the wastes of time must go, 10 Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake And die as fast as they see others grow; 12 And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe 5 can make defense Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence. 14 Revisiting Sonnet Structure This is clearly a Shakespearean sonnet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. It is written in iambic pentameter ( When I do COUNT the CLOCK that TELLS the TIME ). Finally, the turn the volta occurs in the final two stanzas (the speaker spends the entire sonnet describing all the things he observes that remind him of how beauty is fleeting and is dictated by the passing of time, but in the last two lines assert that nothing can be done to prevent this from happening, aside from having children). SONNET #2 Each year I mark one lone outstanding tree, Clad in its robings of the summer past, 2 Dry, wan, and shivering in the wintry blast. It will not pay the season s rightful fee, 4 It will not set its frost-burnt leafage free; But like some palsied miser 6 all aghast, 6 Who hoards his sordid treasure to the last, It sighs, it moans, it sings in eldritch 7 glee. 8 A foolish tree, to dote on summers gone; A faithless tree, that never feels how spring 10 Creeps up the world to make a leafy dawn, And recompense 8 for all despoilment 9 bring! 12 Oh, let me not, heyday and youth withdrawn, With failing hands to their vain semblance cling! 14 This is clearly a Petrarchan sonnet. The rhyme scheme is ABBAABBA CDCDCD. It is written in iambic pentameter ( Each YEAR I MARK one LONE outstanding TREE ). Finally, the turn the volta occurs between the octave and the sestet (the speaker spends the octave describing a tree that never gives up its leaves, despite the changing seasons; in the sestet, however, the speaker comments on why the tree is foolish for not realizing that spring will eventually come and allow it to bear new leaves, and further suggests that she hopes she won t be clinging to her youth in old age the way the tree clings to its leaves). 1 Sable curls refers to black, curly hair 2 Girded means something has been surrounded or encircled 3 Sheaves are bundles of grain stalks laid lengthwise and tied together 4 Biers are moveable frames on which coffins or corpses are placed to be carried to their graves 5 Scythes are tools used for cutting crops such as grass or wheat, with long curved blades at the end of a long pole attached to which are one or two short handles. 6 Palsied refers to something that has been affected by paralysis; miser refers to a person who hoards wealth 7 Eldritch means weird and sinister, or ghostly 8 Recompense means to make amends for loss or harm suffered 9 Despoil means to deprive of something valuable, especially by force

2 ENGLISH 2201: Poetry Unit Revisiting Sonnet Structure PART A: Sample Selected Response Questions (1 mark each) 1. In Sonnet #1, what sound device is used in the following line: Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard (8)? A. Alliteration B. Cacophony C. Euphony D. Onomatopoeia 2. Where is the volta located in Sonnet #1? A. Between lines 2 and 3 B. Between lines 4 and 5 C. Between lines 8 and 9 D. Between lines 12 and What assertion does the speaker make in the final two lines of Sonnet #1? A. The only defense against time is to have a youthful attitude B. The only defense against time is to have children C. The only defense against time is not to fixate on its passing D. There is no defense against time 4. In Sonnet 32, what figurative device is being used in the following line: It sighs, it moans, it sings in eldritch glee (8)? A. Hyperbole B. Metaphor C. Personification D. Simile 5. The tree is Sonnet #2 is described as outstanding because: A. It never grows new leaves B. It never loses its leaves C. Its leaves are burned by frost D. Its leaves never change color

3 PART B: Constructed Response Questions (5 marks each) NOTICE THAT THESE RESPONSES ARE IN POINT FORM YOU NEED TO EXPRESS YOUR ANSWERS IN FULL SENTENCES/PARAGRAPHS WITH FULLY DEVELOPED EXPLANATIONS! 1. In terms of subject matter, how are these sonnets similar? Explain with ONE reference to each poem. SIMILARITY #1: SIMILARITY #2: These poems both use trees, or natural imagery, to symbolize the passing of time. Sonnet #1: When lofty trees I see barren of leaves / Which erst from heat did canopy the herd (5-6) Here, the speaker describes how the sight of leafless trees that once sheltered herds of cattle indicates that the seasons have changed, which is a reminder that has passed. Sonnet #2: Each year I mark one lone outstanding tree, / Clad in its robings of the summer past, / Dry, wan, and shivering in the wintry blast. / It will not pay the season s rightful fee (1-4) Here, the speaker describes one tree that still retains all its leaves from previous seasons, suggesting that it stubbornly resists the inevitably passing of time. These poems both deal with the issue of aging as time passes and how people cope with it. Sonnet #1: And nothing gainst Time s scythe can make defense / Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence (13-14) Here, the suggestion made is that the only defense against the destructive power of time is to have children, since the only means by which a person can live on after he or she has passed away. Sonnet #2: Oh, let me not, heyday and youth withdrawn, / With failing hands to their vain semblance cling! (13-14) Here, the suggestion made is that the speaker does not want to seem as though she is desperately clinging to her youth in old age. 2. Choose ONE example of imagery from each poem and explain the effectiveness of each. SONNET #1: Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard (8) This visual imagery is effective because it helps to develop the main message of the poem. It is an image of a deceased elderly person that is being carried on a bier.

4 The use of alliteration to create this image ( bristly beard ) emphasizes details that reveal how time has affected the person being described. This helps to reveal the theme All aspects of life are subject to the ravages of time because it shows how time impacts a human being (changes in physical appearance, death, etc.). SONNET #2: But like some palsied miser all aghast, / Who hoards his sordid treasure to the last (6-7) This visual imagery is effective because it helps to develop a critical tone. It compares a tree that refuses to give up its leaves to a paralyzed hoarder The diction used to create this comparison is negative in nature; words like miser and sordid have negative connotations surrounding them ( miser = a miserable person who hoards wealth, sordid = actions/motives that are dishonorable). Comparison therefore suggests the speaker is criticizing the tree for stubbornly trying to defy the passage of time 3. There is a shift in tone in the first sonnet. Explain this change with TWO references to the poem. The tone is initially dismayed: Then of thy beauty do I question make, / That thou among the wastes of time must go (9-10) The tone changes to being very matter-of fact : And nothing gainst Time s scythe can make defense / Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence" (13-14) 4. Where is the volta located in the second sonnet? Explain with TWO references to the poem. The volta is located occurs between the octave and the sestet. In the octave, the speaker spends the octave describing a tree that never gives up its leaves, despite the changing seasons: It will not pay the season s rightful fee, / It will not set its frost-burnt leafage free (4-5) In the sestet, however, the speaker comments on why the tree is foolish for not realizing that spring will eventually come and allow it to bear new leaves, and further suggests that she hopes she won t be clinging to her youth in old age the way the tree clings to its leaves: A faithless tree, that never feels how spring / Creeps up the world to make a leafy dawn / And recompense for all despoilment bring! / Oh, let me not, heyday and youth withdrawn, / With failing hands to their vain semblance cling! (10-12) 5. Express a theme for ONE of the two sonnets. Support this theme with TWO references to the poem. SONNET #1: All aspects of life are subject to the ravages of time. When I do count the clock that tells the time, / And see the brave day sunk in hideous night (1-2)

5 Then of thy beauty do I question make, / That thou among the wastes of time must go (9-10) SONNET #2: Resisting the passage of time is a foolish and futile effort. A foolish tree, to dote on summers gone; / A faithless tree, that never feels how spring / Creeps up the world to make a leafy dawn, / And recompense for all despoilment bring! (9-12) Oh, let me not, heyday and youth withdrawn, / With failing hands to their vain semblance cling! (13-14)

6 ENGLISH 2201: Poetry Unit Revisiting Artistic Visuals

7 Constructed Response Questions (5 marks each) 1. What mood does this visual create? Explain by referencing TWO visual elements or principles of design. Mood is anxious Focal point of the dandelion achieves this - Viewers are meant to fixate on the dandelion, suggesting it is the most important part of the visual - The dandelion is fragile and delicate; one breath of wind and it will cease to exist. - Since the dandelion serves as the part of a sundial that functions to tell time in this image, the suggestion is that time is also delicate or fragile. - This creates feelings of anxious or fearfulness reminds viewers of the fragility of time (that it can run out for anyone at anytime) Contrast between light and dark also achieves this - The sundial in the foreground is bright compared to the background, which is dark - Emphasis/importance is therefore placed on the sundial, suggesting that time is important/valuable - Creates feelings of anxiety because viewers are reminded that time is valuable; it s finite and can run out for anyone at anytime 2. What message does this visual convey? Explain by referencing TWO visual elements or principles of design. (NOTICE that many of the same elements/references for the mood question can also be used here!) Message: The fragility of time makes it more valuable than is sometimes recognized. Focal point of the dandelion achieves this - Viewers are meant to fixate on the dandelion, suggesting it is the most important part of the visual - The dandelion is fragile and delicate; one breath of wind and it will cease to exist. - Since the dandelion serves as the part of a sundial that functions to tell time in this image, the suggestion is that time is also delicate or fragile. - This reminds viewers that time is fragile (it can run out for anyone at anytime) Contrast between light and dark also achieves this - The sundial in the foreground is bright compared to the background, which is dark - Emphasis/importance is therefore placed on the sundial, suggesting that time is important/valuable - This reminds viewers that time is valuable Viewer can conclude, therefore, that the use of focal point and contrast suggests time is valuable because it is fragile

Campbell s English 3202 Poetry Terms Sorted by Function: Form, Sound, and Meaning p. 1 FORM TERMS

Campbell s English 3202 Poetry Terms Sorted by Function: Form, Sound, and Meaning p. 1 FORM TERMS Poetry Terms Sorted by Function: Form, Sound, and Meaning p. 1 FORM TERMS TERM DEFINITION Acrostic Verse A poem that uses a pattern to deliver a second, separate message, usually with the first letter