Shakespeare! - The Chicago Poetry Center

Shakespeare!

In this lesson, we focused on the Shakespearean Sonnet and iambic pentameter. In his Sonnet 127, William Shakespeare muses on beauty and its perception as a ‘currency’ in the modern world: ‘In the old age, black was not counted fair.’ Students took some time to experiment with iambic pentameter and rhyme scheme. Below are some examples. We worked on a Quatrain as a class, and students created their own Rhyming Couplets.

Lesson Note: A strict form such as the Shakespearean Sonnet, might actually allow for creativity rather than hinder it. Here students experimented with the creative power of limitations.

Mrs. Nazimek 8th Grade, Group 2

Class Quatrain: Perfection Class

Perfection is the key to succession
It comes from the inside of your self worth
To be flawless you’ll have an obsession
It comes from the bottom of the round earth

Rhyming Couplet Alma Z.

Perfection is not important in life
And perfection is hurtful like a knife.

Rhyming Couplet Samuel C.

Perfection is not really important
You are you since you were a small infant.

Rhyming Couplet Brianna P.

It is not important to be perfect
It is overrated but some object.

Mrs. Nazimek 8th Grade, Group 3

Class Quatrain: Ourselves Class

Unique is what we are told by many
But how are we unique if we are all
the same personalities are plenty
But some of us are short and some are tall.

Rhyming Couplet Sent S.

We all have qualities that we redeem
Really it’s never common as it seems.

Rhyming Couplet Edgar V.

We all have qualities and different
Features and different paths of interest.

Rhyming Couplet Jesus R.

It is told we have many equal rights
If that was correct why do many fight?

Mrs. Strus 7th Grade

Class Quatrain: Summer Class

Ice cream melting getting darker at night
Trees are blowing in the windy city
Sunshine beaming on me, oh so bright
Summer sunshine, flowers blooming pretty.

Rhyming Couplet Jaime L.

I love summer because of the water
I love summer it is so much hotter.

Rhyming Couplet Zelda R.

The sea is nice when it’s quiet at dawn
The deer are out and playing with their fawns.

Rhyming Couplet Josue H.

In the summer I like to go fishing
In the night I look at the stars wishing.