Assignment 04

Class Sonnets - Creativity and FUNdamentals
04 Manipulation with Iambs
 
by Demented Sonneteer

Due to me forgetting to post Friday's lecture, all students will be awarded two points on a homework.

As you know now, iambs are what gives a sonnet it's life. However, the iamb can also be used as more than a mere beat, but a way of catching your reader's attention as well.  Unfortunately, this technique has only been seen used upon one syllable words that can be both stressed and unstressed.

The way this technique is used is mostly as a method to catch attention by bring a word to focus either by stressing hard a previous word or stressing a different word. However, by changing the stress, you also give the word a different meaning. For example:

     1. "The you HAVE for ME doth WARM my HEART."
        "The that YOU have FOR me MAKES me WARM."

        - In the first sentence the focus is on heart warming love
          for "me" due to the fact that "me" jumps out at you. The
          second sentence speaks of a love that "you" gives. Me has
          becomes just an after thought as it is "you" that jumps out
          at you.

     2. "EnGAGED are YOU and I in HOly "
        "EnGAGED in HOly you AND I ARE."

        - The first sentence speaks of marriage between two couples.
          while the 2nd one speaks of them being in a marriage. This
          is a more subtle example and the stresses must be used more
          carefully to keep the readers from stumbling.

As you can see, iambs are more than just a mere beat or a collection of alternating stresses. It is truly what gives the sonnet its life. Just like the heart has nuances in its beat to give us emotions, the iambs give the sonnet its emotions.

Assignment 03 - Due Thursday 7/20 11:59 PM Central Time
               
Give me ten pairs of sentences that show how a line's meaning may change by simply altering the stress. Each pair will be worth 2 points so be careful. There is no bonus on the homework this time.

Sentence Series 1

Should I tell/ the government/ I am gay/

Rally the/ government/ proclaim I’/m gay

The first one is a question…a phrase searching for a philosophical answer.  The second one is a affirmation to a proclamation…more positive and assertive than the first line.

Sentence Series 2

Doctors give/ you the news/ with grim stone/ faces

With grim stone/ faces, doctors/ deliver the/ news

Both end on masculine words, but both lines are defined differently.  The first line has emphasis on the doctors’ facial expressions while the second line focuses on the delivering of the news.  The first line becomes more concrete, while the second hovers more towards the abstract.

Sentence Series 3

You cannot/ value life/ until you/ have been a/ witness to/ near death.

You cannot/ be a wit/ness to near/ death until/ you have val/ued life
.
Though the two sentences seem similar in meaning they are not.  The first one speaks of how one cannot value life until they have witnessed death while the second one states that you cannot be a witness to death until you have valued life.


Sentence Series 4

And yet I/ shall dwell in /His house for/ever.

In his/ House I/ shall dwell/ forev/er.

The first line is the answer from a choice and a conclusion was reached whereas the second one is a finality, where upon no choice was made possible.

Sentence Series 5

On this dark/ grey earth it/ was only/ borrowed

‘Twas on/ly bor/rowed, on/ this dark/ grey earth?

The first line is hard to make it into a iambic pentameter whereas with the second line it has been simplified to do.

Sentence Series 6

Would our cheeks redden, -- from a ;

From a/ ,  our/ cheeks would/  redden

The first one asks a teasing question, the reaction on our face from a blush, the second line assumes that from a blush we would automatically have redden cheeks.

Sentence Series 7

I shall/ use my/ time or/ become/ condemned

To be/ condemned/ if I/ do not/ use my time

The first line has an action = reaction equation to it while the second line is more forceful with the result if the author does not occupy him/herself.

Sentence Series 8

Where we kiss on a pulvinar

Upon a pulvinar we shall

(A pulvinar is a pillow set out before the gods so that they can sit down before they kiss.)

The first sentence gives the place where the kiss takes place where as the second phrase gives directions on where the kiss should be taking place.

Sentence Series 9

I am se/riously pon/dering a/ position

Serious/ly I/ have pond/ered the/ position

The first sentence is an action in  process and the second one the action has already been taken.

Sentence Series 10

I'll/ read the/ first is/sue, then/ I'll/ see

I will see/ after I/ have read the/ first issue.

The first sentence is a possible reaction taken after the action, whereas the second sentence may not come to light if the first issue is not even read.