Rhetoric Home |  Rhetorical Resources  |  Rhetorical Terms
Class Productions

SONNET SQUEEZING (spring 2002) 2006 Students: Please follow the guidelines listed at ASSIGNMENTS for Feb 20, 2006. Assignment: --No later than class on February 12 (but preferably sooner), go to the class BULLETIN BOARD and do the sonnet exercise.  At the bottom of the list of postings (see "Sonnet for Nordquist"--and my reply), you'll find an example of what I'd like you to do and how I'd like you to do it.   At the BULLETIN BOARD , (1) open the message with your name on it; (2) study the sonnet I've given you; (3) click on "post reply," and then (4) in a sentence or two briefly summarize what you perceive to be the central idea and/or movement of the sonnet; (5) under your summary, specifically identify (with line references and, where necessary, direct quotations) each stylistic device and rhetorical strategy (in CAPITAL LETTERS) that you can identify, and (whenever possible) (6) briefly explain ("so what?) the apparent purpose or effect of each device or strategy you've named.    Then post the information to the board.  (If you're uncertain of the "so what?" at least provide the "show me.")  Do NOT give definitions of the terms (most of which, of course, are in our online glossary), and especially do not copy dictionary definitions (which are often not rhetorical definitions and may only serve to confuse those who are trying to learn the appropriate meanings of the terms for our class).
Below you will find some of the more complete, accurate, perceptive, and incisive student responses to this assignment (in spring 2002).  That said, the "squeezing" exercise is exploratory, not conclusive, and not all of the insights are especially penetrating, nor all of the identifications of  rhetorical devices especially accurate.  The exercise, in other words, is a starting point, not a finish line.  Caveat emptor. Poets, Sonnets, and Rhetoricians Aphra Benn, "Epitaph" [Melissa Hill] Govinda Krishna Chettur, "Lord of Unnumbered Hopes" [Catherine Hemmi] John Donne, "Since She Whom I Loved" [Eric Verhine] Gerard Manley Hopkins, "God's Grandeur" [Ryan Clark] John Keats, "The Human Seasons" [Becky Swart] John Keats, "When I Have Fears" [Joe Ventura] Edna St. Vincent Millay, "Four Sonnets: III" [Jeanette Kehr] William Shakespeare, Sonnet 129 [Joanne Mueller] Sir Philip Sydney, Astrophel and Stella, Sonnet I [Ashley Wexler] Sir Philip Sydney, Astrophel and Stella, Sonnet XX [Tim Witherow] Sir Philip Sydney, Astrophel and Stella, Sonnet XXXIX [Justin Weilacher] Sir Philip Sydney, Astrophel and Stella, Sonnet XLIV Go to first page of analyses (Benn through Keats) Go to second page of analyses (Millay through Sydney) ADDITIONAL SONNETS English 5730 is taught by Dr. Richard Nordquist. Armstrong Atlantic State University Savannah, Georgia 31419 912-921-5991 15 February 2006

English 5730 is taught by Dr. Richard Nordquist.
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Savannah, Georgia 31419
912-921-5991
e-mail: chiasmus@netzero.com

15 February 2006