Before Reading
Preview Organizational Features
Read about the parts of a Petrarchan sonnet in Literary Tools on page 342 in your textbook. Keep the parts of a Petrarchan sonnet in mind as you read.
During Reading
Use Text Organization as You Read
1. Listen as your teacher reads the octave, or first eight lines, of sonnet 1 aloud. What is the main idea of this section of the poem? Write your idea down in your notebook. Listen to the sestet of the poem. What idea is expressed in the first three lines? What idea is expressed in the last three lines? Write your ideas in your notebook.
2. Read the next two sonnets on your own. Take notes about the meaning of each octave and the two parts of each sestet.
Fix-Up Idea: Use Guided Reading Questions
Use the Guided Reading Questions for these selections to help you focus on the main ideas of each sonnet. Read the question; then examine the related lines to find an answer to the question.
After Reading
Identify Theme
With a partner, compare the notes you made about the sonnets. Then synthesize the main ideas you listed to identify the theme that the three sonnets have in common.