Renaissance
Era
Sonnet 5
Image 1: William Shakespeare. Image. Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2020.
Unit Overview
In this unit, you will be reading "Sonnet
5" by William Shakespeare.
In William Shakespeare's "Sonnet 5,"
a speaker describes the loss of outer beauty.
As you read, explore the theme of Identity
as it relates to the text and try to answer this big question: "What
makes you who you are?"
Image 2: 1999–2020 BrainPOP / Click the image to watch a video on William Shakespeare (jcesc/qfaf9361)
William
Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English poet, playwright, and actor.
Shakespeare has written approximately 38 plays and 154 sonnets and is widely
considered one of the greatest English language writers.
A Shakespearean sonnet is generally
written in iambic pentameter, in which there are ten syllables in each line. The Shakespearian sonnet's rhyme scheme is
abab–cdcd–efef–gg, challenging to follow.
The sonnet has become popular among
different poets because it has excellent adaptability to different purposes and
requirements. Rhythms are strictly followed. It could be a perfect poetic
style for elaborating or expressing a single feeling or thought, with its short
length in iambic pentameter. It gives an ideal setting for a poet to explore
strong emotions. Due to its short length, it is easy to manage for both the
writer and the reader.
In Sonnet 5, a speaker discusses how
outer beauty fades.
Let's
Practice
Literary Terms &
Notes
Below is a flipbook
of important terms and notes that will help you understand the passage. It is important that you go over all the
terms and notes before reading the excerpt.
Let's Practice
Sonnet 5
While watching and
listening to the video above, what words does the speaker stress, and how does
this affect the poem's meaning? Be sure
to look over the notes below before reading Sonnet 5.
· Sonnet 5 depicts the passing
of time and relates nature's four
seasons with the stages of life.
· Sonnet 5 refers to aging.
· The first stanza
explains the results of the passing of
time.
· The second stanza
furthers the negative consequences of
aging.
· The third stanza depicts
the necessity of preserving beauty.
· The final stanza
explains how beauty can be protected.
Let’s Practice
Sonnet 5
You can read the passage two ways:
1. Click on Unit Resources and
read the printed version of the text.
2. Sign-up on "COMMONLIT"
and receive an enhanced version of the text.
As you read, take notes on how the speaker
defines beauty and what happens when it fades.