Page 94 - SpringBoard_Writing_Workshop_Grade8_Flipbook

Sample Text onnet 29
by William Shakespeare
When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes A I all alone beweep my outcast state, B And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, A And look upon myself and curse my fate, B
5 Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, C Featured like him, like him with friends possessed, D Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope, C With what I most enjoy contented least; D Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, E
10 Haply I think on thee, and then my state, F (Like to the lark at break of day arising E From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate; F For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings G That then I scorn to change my state with kings. G
After Reading
6. When you have finished reading, respond to the following questions about the poem’s ideas, structure, and use of language in the space provided. Be prepared to discuss your answers with your classmates.
a. Ideas: What is the subject of the poem? Who is the speaker? What is the speaker’s attitude, or tone, toward the subject? When and how does the speaker’s attitude (tone) shift?
The subject of the poem is relief from despair through love. The speaker begins by expressing despair at his life as he says, “myself almost despising.” The shift occurs in the tenth line; when thinking of his beloved, his state, or condition “like to the lark,” “sings hymns.”
b. Structure: How many stanzas and lines are there? How long are the lines? Where does the poet break the lines? How many syllables are in each line? Does the poem have a consistent rhyme scheme or meter? How do these decisions help communicate ideas and create tone? This sonnet consists of one 14-line stanza made up of three quatrains and a couplet. The rhyme and meter are consistent. The meter is iambic pentameter (10 syllables per line, 5 feet). The rhyme scheme
is regular but deviates slightly from the conventional sonnet rhyme scheme in that the last quatrain echoes the rhyme scheme of the first quatrain, calling attention to his newfound sense of appreciation for his “state” arising from thoughts of his beloved.
My Notes
ACADEMIC VOCABULARY
Meter refers to a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables
in a line of poetry. An iamb is a two-syllable metrical foot (or
measure) consisting
of one unstressed
syllable followed by one stressed syllable. Iambic pentameter refers to a line of poetry with five iambic feet (which would total ten syllables). Sonnets are usually written in iambic pentameter with a specific rhyme scheme.
Writing Workshop 8 • Poetry 3
© 2017 College Board. All rights reserved.