Sonnet Styles

We will be studying the stylistic elements of sonnets by Spenser, Petrarch, and Shakespeare, Milton and Pushkin on which most later styles are based, highlighting the differences in both form and content between them. Participants will be invited to write sonnets in the various styles considered by way of assignments.

The class will consist of nine 'Zoom' sessions of approximately one hour each on days and at times mutually suitable, Commencing Friday 27th April 2018. Times will be dependent on where students are based. It is quite likely that not everyone will be able to attend every classes. Sessions will be recorded with recordings available to class members and catch up sessions and one to one tutorials may be available.

You will need a computer or tablet equipped with a microphone and, ideally, a camera.

There are two scholarships available to cover the cost of this class. See Social - Clubs - Poetry Scholarship Club for further details. If you are applying for a scholarship please do NOT sign up here.

The first session will be held during the week beginning Monday 4th January

Week 1 - 2 sessions - Shakespearean and Petrarchan
Week 2 - 2 sessions - Miltonic and Spenserian
Week 3 - 2 sessions - Terza Rima and Curtal sonnets
Week 4 - 2 sessions - The Pushkin Sonnet and further study as required
Week 5 - 1 session - further study as required.


Instructor: James Bartlett

About The Instructor: Jim Bartlett is an ex-Royal Marine Officer, and retired teacher, with a good honours degree in Education, and English and Drama, from London University. He has been a member of a local poetry group in South Wales where he currently lives alone in a redundant farm house.

Jim started writing while serving with 45 Commando, Royal Marines in Aden in the mid 1960s. At that time he was writing mainly song lyrics but later moved on to poetry after studying it on his degree course, which he undertook as a mature student between 1972 and 1976.

He has been published in poetry magazines and newspapers from time to time. In 2005 he produced a CD of self-penned songs under the title of "Tomorrow Never Comes", and published a poetry collection of thirty-six poems in 2012 entitled, "Triple Dozen" prior to joining FanStory in March 2015. His songs and poems have won several competitions.

Jim has also lectured on English Folk Lore and Song for the WEA in SE London in the late 1970s. He was urged to enrol as an instructor on FanStory by many who found his reviews of their poetry particularly helpful.