Sonnet Styles

We will be studying the stylistic elements of sonnets by Spenser, Petrarch, and Shakespeare, 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 style of these three poets by way of assignments.

This is the first of two classes that will look at sonnets. A follow-up class will take place in September/October that will attempt to develop a modern sonnet style incorporating what has been learnt in the earlier class. The most benefit will be obtained by undertaking both classes, but you only need to commit to one at a time. Should you be experienced in writing sonnets of all three styles there is no bar to you signing up for the second course alone.

The first of these courses consists of nine sessions of approximately one hour each on Tuesdays and Fridays, Commencing Friday 10th August 2018. There will be no class on Tuesday 21st August, and the final session will be on Tuesday 11th September. Times will be dependent on where students are based but in the past 5.00 pm EST has proved workable for most. It is quite likely that not everone will be able to attend every classes. Catch up sessions may be available.

I am away on vacation so do not expect any communication from me until week beginning 6th August.

10th August -- Sonnet Forms principal differences between Shakespearean, Spenserrian and Petrarchan forms.
14th & 17th August - Shakespearean Sonnet Form.
24th & 28th August - Spenserian Sonnet Form.
31st August & 4th September - Petrarchan Sonnet Form.
7th & 11th September - Other related sonnet forms.



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.