Elizabethan Language Mastery: Sonnets

Group Teaching Activity

 

Your task is to teach the class a sonnet.  Included in your lesson will be a dramatic reading, literal translation, an analysis for technique, and a thematic statement.  Your sonnet and group will be determined.  Click here for groups.

 

DAY ONE

 

·        Choose somebody good to do your reading and somebody reliable to take notes throughout the entire process.

 

·        Do a phrase by phrase translation into common language; then, summarize the quatrains and couplet.  Note: some of the sonnets are not Shakespearean and may look different with rhyme scheme!  How will you solve that problem?

 

·        Create a tentative thematic statement for your sonnet.

 

·        Analyze for technique.  For the analysis, you are looking for literary techniques:  figurative language (metaphor and simile), personification, imagery, structure, themes, etc… Don’t forget other classically poetic techniques like irony, alliteration, diction, tone, and the like.

 

·        Synthesize analysis and theme.  In other words, for each literary technique, answer these questions:  Why did the author use that technique?  How does it help us understand or appreciate the theme of the poem?

 

·        Put together an organized outline of what you are going to teach the class.

 

DAY TWO

 

·        Present your sonnet to the class.

 

 


 

Elizabethan Language: Sonnets

Group Teaching Activity Rubric

 

GROUP:_____________________________________________________

 

SONNET:________

 

Your lesson should last 10 minutes.

 

 

strong

good

fair

poor

effectiveness of your dramatic reading

5

4

3

2

accuracy of literal translation

10    9

8

7

6

quality & depth of literary analysis

10    9

8

7

6

quality & justification of thematic statement

10    9

8

7

6

quality of notes and preparation

10    9

8

7

6

equal and effective group effort

5

4

3

2

 

 

TOTAL: _____of 50

 

COMMENTS:

 

 

 

Elizabethan Language: Sonnets

Group Teaching Activity Rubric

 

GROUP:_____________________________________________________

 

SONNET:________

 

Your lesson should last 10 minutes.

 

 

strong

good

fair

poor

effectiveness of your dramatic reading

5

4

3

2

accuracy of literal translation

10    9

8

7

6

quality & depth of literary analysis

10    9

8

7

6

quality & justification of thematic statement

10    9

8

7

6

quality of notes and preparation

10    9

8

7

6

equal and effective group effort

5

4

3

2

 

 

TOTAL: _____of 50

 

COMMENTS: