Before Reading
Review Organization of a Sonnet
What are the parts of a Shakespearean sonnet? How is a theme usually developed in this type of sonnet? If you are unsure, review the definition of sonnet in the Handbook of Literary Terms. Use the organization to help you as you read this sonnet.
During Reading
Use Organization as You Read
1. Listen as your teacher reads the first four lines of the poem. What is the main idea of this quatrain? Write it down in your notebook.
2. Continue reading the selection on your own. Stop after each quatrain and write down the main idea. Then write down the main idea of the couplet.
Fix-Up Idea: Refocus on Imagery
As you read, focus on the natural images in the poem. Make a list of natural elements. Do a quick write about the emotion these images create in you. How do these images seem to make the speaker feel?
After Reading
Summarize Theme
With a partner, use the main ideas you identified to discuss the theme of the poem and how it is developed. What insight does the couplet give you?