Shakespeare's Sonnets Lesson Plan

Beyond Shakespeare #2

Kind of Activity:

Individual Writing

Objective:

Students will be able to understand the sonnet format well enough to use it creatively

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.5

Structure:

Review the students' essays from the previous day's activity. Ask a few students to share their essays. What did they observe about the relationship between Shakespearean sonnets and the more contemporary sonnets?

Having written an essay comparing Shakespeare sonnets and modern sonnets, students should have a clear idea of what a sonnet's constraints are and what its traditions have been. Each student should work individually to...