As you read through the poem, you noted the positive and negative words. Overall, would you say that this poem is more positive than negative or vice versa?
Through the course of the poem, Shakespeare compares the subject of his poem to a summer’s day. Make a list of the ways that the poet says the lady is like summer.
In the last two lines (a rhyming couplet) of the poem, Shakespeare outlines how he hopes to immortalise his love. How does he intend to do this?
Write out the rhyming scheme of the poem, using the example for ‘Remember’ on page 288.
Write a short paragraph discussing the similarities and differences between Christina Rossetti’s and Shakespeare’s approach to the themes of death and love in the sonnets ‘Remember’ and ‘Shall I Compare Thee?’.
Based on the information above and the two poems you have studied, compare and contrast Petrarchan sonnets and Shakespearean sonnets by drawing a Venn diagram.
PREPARE VenN Diagram W7.5
Petrarchan Sonnet
* First written in Useful words * Rhyming couplet* Quatrain* Sestet* Octet
A group of 8 lines A group of 6 lines A group of 4 lines
A group of 2 lines which rhyme
In the Places collection in Fire and Ice 1, the poem, ‘Composed Upon Westminster Bridge’ featured (p. 233). Find this poem and work out what type of sonnet it is, based on its structure.
D fourteenth century
Elements in common
Shakespearean Sonnet
290 FIRE AND ICE 2
Immortal n. Definition: to live forever Antonym: mortal
