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Teacher Lesson Plans

Lesson: Sonnet Explication

Possible Adaptations:

  •  May be used with another Shakespearean sonnet
  • May be used with a section of text from another auther (i.e. Chaucer's General Prologue)
  • May be adapted for high school level lesson
    • Goal of Lesson: To teach students close reading of a poem

    Materials Needed:
        A sonnet for review (This example uses Sonnet 138, which may be a little mature for high school
            close reading.)
        Reading questions
        A good dictionary for each student (They can bring these from home.)

    Description of Activity:

    1.  Have students bring a good dictionary to class.  The dictionary should be unabridged if possible.  Study dictionaries and desk dictionaries do not work well.

    2.  Look up a sample word as a class.  Point out major parts of a dictionary definition, including word origin and part of speech.

    3.  Give students the sonnet and the guiding questions.  Let them work in groups of two or three to complete the questions.  This usually takes about 40-45 minutes.  It is an especially entertaining lesson!

    4.  As a class, compare findings at the end of the activity.  Students will find that Shakespeare uses many words with double meanings, making his sonnet skillfully crafted and carefully worded.

    5.  Discuss the importance of close reading in any text.