Today we shall discuss the historical backgrounds of sonneteering. For a better idea of where the sonnet tradition comes from, see this briefest of outlines.
We shall also attempt to describe the usual structure of a Shakespearean sonnet using Sonnet 73 as an example and give some background on Shakespeare's sonnet sequence (pages 28-29 of the packet).
We shall round up the meeting considering how Shakespeare modifies or even disrupts some of the conventions of sonnet writing of the time. See the exercise here.
Due Wednesday, March 15
Journal 2: Writing on one of “Nine Shakespearean Sonnets (except Sonnet 130)” (30-32). Instructions for Journals here.
