This is part of a slidedeck I put together to help a class identify a sonnet .

1. Taking a sonnet apart…
…so we can build a better one!

NB: These slides will be available on the blog later! http://fourthyear.wordpress.com

2. Whit we daein’ the day?
• Quick review of yesterday’s learning about the
sonnet.
• A practical bit of sonnet analysis using a handy
Sonnet Toolkit.
• Working with our groups and others to make
sure we are better able to analyse a sonnet

3. How’ll we know we’ve done it?
• Your analysis of the FORM of the poem will be
completed;
• You’ll be able to identify a SONNET because of
the RULES used to write it;
• You’ll be able to REPEAT THE ANALYSIS on
your own using the STRATEGIES we are using in
class;
• SIMPLES!

4. Worked Example
If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

5. How Many Lines?
1. If I should die, think only this of me:
2. That there's some corner of a foreign field
3. That is for ever England. There shall be
4. In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
5. A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
6. Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
7. A body of England's, breathing English air,
8. Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
9. And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
10. A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
11. Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
12. Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
13. And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
14. In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

6. Octave Sestet Volta
1. If I should die, think only this of me:
2. That there's some corner of a foreign field
3. That is for ever England. There shall be FIRST EIGHT
4. In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; LINES =
5. A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, OCTAVE
6. Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
7. A body of England's, breathing English air,
8. Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
9. And think, this heart, all evil shed away, VOLTA
10. A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
11. Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; LAST SIX
12. Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; LINES =
13. And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, SESTET
14. In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

7. Rhyme Scheme?
1. If I should die, think only this of me:
2. That there's some corner of a foreign field
3. That is for ever England. There shall be
4. In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
5. A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
6. Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
7. A body of England's, breathing English air,
8. Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
9. And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
10. A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
11. Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
12. Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
13. And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
14. In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

8. Rhyme Scheme?
1. If I should die, think only this of me: a
2. That there's some corner of a foreign field b
3. That is for ever England. There shall be a
4. In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; b
5. A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, c
6. Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, d
7. A body of England's, breathing English air, c
8. Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home. d
9. And think, this heart, all evil shed away, e
10. A pulse in the eternal mind, no less f
11. Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; g
12. Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; e
13. And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, f
14. In hearts at peace, under an English heaven. g

9. Rhythm / Accents
If / I / should / die, / think / on / ly / this / of / me: 10
That / there's / some / cor / ner / of / a / fo / reign / field 10
That / is / for / e- / ver / Eng / land. / There / shall / be 10
In / that / rich / earth / a / ri- / cher / dust / con / cealed; 10
A / dust / whom / Eng / land / bore, / shaped, / made / a- / ware, 10
Gave, / once, / her / flowers / to / love, / her / ways / to / roam, 10
A / bo- / dy / of / Eng / land's, / brea- / thing / Eng- / lish / air, (11)
Washed / by / the / ri- / vers,/ blest / by / suns / of / home. 10

10. Rhythm / Accents
u / u / u / u / u /
If / I / should / die, / think / on / ly / this / of / me: 10
u / u / u / u / u /
That / there's / some / cor / ner / of / a / fo / reign / field 10
That / is / for / e- / ver / Eng / land. / There / shall / be 10
In / that / rich / earth / a / ri- / cher / dust / con / cealed; 10
A / dust / whom / Eng / land / bore, / shaped, / made / a- / ware, 10
Gave, / once, / her / flowers / to / love, / her / ways / to / roam, 10
A / bo- / dy / of / Eng / land's, / brea- / thing / Eng- / lish / air, (11)
Washed / by / the / ri- / vers,/ blest / by / suns / of / home. 10