This document provides an overview of elements to consider when interpreting Shakespearean sonnets, including sound techniques like alliteration and assonance, figures of speech, imagery, diction, tone, mood, syntax, and form. It then analyzes Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 as an example, breaking it down into its quatrains and couplet and describing the typical elements and progression found within a Shakespearean sonnet. The document concludes by providing guidance to write your own Shakespearean sonnet, walking through the process of developing each line and section.

1. Interpreting
Shakespearean
Sonnets

2. Sound
• Alliteration: repetition of initial consonant sounds (e.g. tried
and true, safe and sound, fish and fowl).
• Assonance: repetition of vowel sounds (e.g. mad as a
hatter, free and easy, time out of mind).
• Consonance: repetition of final consonant sounds (e.g. first
and last, odds and ends, short and sweet).
figures of speech
imagery
diction Review the Elements
tone
Mood
syntax
form

3. Sonnet 116
1 Let me not to the marriage of true minds
2 Admit impediments, love is not love
3 Which alters when it alteration finds,
4 Or bends with the remover to remove.
5 O no, it is an ever-fixed mark
6 That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
7 It is the star to every wand'ring bark,
8 Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
9 Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
10 Within his bending sickle's compass come,
11 Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
12 But bears it out even to the edge of doom:
13 If this be error and upon me proved,
14 I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

4. 1st Quatrain
Exposition of the main theme and main metaphor
1 Let me not to the marriage of true minds
2 Admit impediments, love is not love
3 Which alters when it alteration finds,
4 Or bends with the remover to remove.

5. 2nd Quatrain
Theme and metaphor are extended; creative illustration is given
5 O no, it is an ever-fixed mark
6 That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
7 It is the star to every wand'ring bark,
8 Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

6. 3rd Quatrain
Either the metaphor is extended
or conflict is introduced through the turn or volta
9 Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
10 Within his bending sickle's compass come,
11 Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
12 But bears it out even to the edge of doom:

7. Couplet
Summarizes and leaves the reader with a new, concluding image
13 If this be error and upon me proved,
14 I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

8. Try your hand at it
Google docs: CN LN, I - Shakespearean Sonnet
1. Think of a topic. Explain what your sonnet is going to be
about in 3-5 sentences.
2. The first two lines of your Shakespearean Sonnet are easy
to write because they don’t have to rhyme yet. Try out a few
ideas for your 1st line.
3. The 2nd line doesn’t have a fixed rhyme yet; try writing a
second line.
4. Count each syllable, make sure you only have 10 syllables.
Revise your work if it exceeds or is lacking in syllables. Do
not forget to add color to make each line interesting. Also,
revise your work to follow the iambic pentameter (– ‘).

9. Try your hand at it
Google docs: CN LN, I - Shakespearean Sonnet
5. The 3rd and 4th line will need to rhyme with those you
already wrote; the 3rd with the 1st and the 4th with the 2nd.
To aid you in writing these:
a. Create a list of words that rhyme with the last word of the
1st line.
b. Create another list of words that rhyme with the last word
of the 2nd line.
6. Write your ideas for the 3rd and 4th line.
7. Look over your 1st quatrain. Make sure all the lines have 10
syllables and are following the metrical scheme of iambic
pentameter.

10. Try your hand at it
Google docs: CN LN, I - Shakespearean Sonnet
8. Go over the same process for the two other quatrains and
the couplet, remembering the essential composition of
each:
a. 2nd Quatrain: Theme and metaphor are extended;
creative illustration is given.
b. 3rd Quatrain: Either the metaphor is extended or conflict
is introduced through the turn or volta.
c. Couplet: Summarizes and leaves the reader with a new,
concluding image.
You have now successfully created your first working
Shakespearean Sonnet draft!