This is the second of two contests for serious sonnet writers. Please read and follow the specifics of the options and the rules very carefully. Participants are invited to submit a sonnet
· with an Italian sonnet rhyme scheme
· with meter as noted - This is important, the basic challenge of the contest! Contest Revision!!!: The meter challenge seems too tough. Now accepting iambic pentameter for the Italian options, but at least 100 points will be awarded for every entry with hendecasyllable meter which also meets all the other contest criteria. Something other than exclusive iambic pentameter is required for the Miltonian option. Otherwise, it might as well be Petrarchan! To be fair, qualified Miltonian entries with other than exclusive iambic pentameter will also be rewarded with 100 points.
· with a subtle or dramatic turn at line 9
OPTIONS – Besides specifying a particular rhyme scheme, the details of each option include a specific challenge for your skill and creativity with meter.
1. Miltonian – Rhyme scheme: abba abba cde cde. Challenge: Iambic pentameter should prevail; however, change a few lines to another meter, but with a noticeable pattern. The challenge is a bow to Milton’s occasional metrical eccentricity.
2. Italian – Giacomo da Lentini made the sonnet what it is while Petrarch made it popular throughout Western Europe, so there are two (four?) rhyme scheme options:
A. da Lentini – Rhyme scheme: abababab cdecde (or cdccdc).
B. Petrarch – Rhyme scheme: abbaabba cdecde (or cdcdcd).
Challenge: Use hendecasyllable meter. The Italian meter is not exactly duplicated in English, but think of it as catalectic iambic hexameter (missing the final syllable of the 6th iambic foot). The 6th and 10th syllables must be stressed, and the 11th must not be. If you cannot handle the challenge, the more commonplace iambic pentameter is acceptable.
RULE: In your author’s notes identify the option and meter.
RULE: Pre-writes are allowed, but the specifics of each option should challenge or even require you to write something new.
· A participant may enter two poems, but only one pre-write, and the poems must be for different options.
· Entries cannot win if they do not meet the explicit criteria of the options and rules.
The contest will remain open for as long as it takes to get at least 8 qualified entries.
BONUS POINTS: Join me in judging by commenting on at least 4 entries from other participants.
· Rank them 1 – 4 in an IM to me.
· I will add my own top 4 to the mix, but I will comment on all entries.
· Besides points awarded for Gold, Silver and Bronze, each judge will receive 25 points as soon as I have read your qualifying IM and comments.
RULE: Don’t quibble with me about the conventions or traditional forms of the sonnet.
CONTEST RULE NO. 1:
No disrespecting individuals, ethnicity, age, gender, gender preference, political parties or movements, religion, spirituality or faith
Specific subjects and language to avoid:
Abuse
Addiction
Adult
Cruelty
Erotica – Sensual is allowed. If you do not know the difference, this is not a contest for you.
Gratuitous profanity - If you do not know how to use strong language without swearing, this contest is also not for you.
Obscenity – I know what is obscene, and so do you. Do not be a twerp.
Thanks to judmc who contributed 200 points and for participation and good ideas shared in my last contest.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on October 14, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 750, Silver: 500, Bronze: 250
- Final notes: Thanks to all who entered this contest. Not only did I enjoy the varied responses to the challenges of form and meter, I took considerable pleasure from the beauty of your words and the intricacy of your thoughts.
Thanks as well to those who helped judge this contest.
The gold was a clear winner, listed first or second by all judges. The silver and bronze actually tied, and I used my power as the contest host to assign their final rank.
I am not a fan of the honorable mention trophies, but there were additional points awarded and well-earned for your participation and response to the fairly difficult metrical challenge of this contest.
Contest Winners
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I struggle throughout this unsought endeavor;
Compelled by chance to ascertain my mission• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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Dark is the soft call of the mourning dove
Upon hearts which have lost desire to trust.by PerVirtuous 14 lines, 5 comments, on Sep 14 5:58 PM 2008. In Contest, Love, Sonnet
Bronze trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
I wish that all the world would give up fighting
All violence is such a foolish notionby cricketjeff 18 lines, 7 comments, on Oct 3 12:44 PM 2008. In Thoughts• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Entries [5]
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Comments
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I find it much easier to think of the meter for 11 syllable lines as pentametric but ending on an amphibrach (di dum di)
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There are several ways to imagine hendecasyllable in English, but a prime number like 11 is going to always have an odd man out among feet of two or three syllables. (Or is it odd-girl-out since it's a feminine ending?) English is an incredibly versatile tongue, but our poetic meters tend to eschew that particular count.
However we think of it, for we speakers of the English, the Italian endecasillabo is relatively simple to hear. Much harder for our English ears is the mixed herd of Catullus' hendecasyllabic meter, with its rhino-like dactyl appearing second after the bovine spondee and before the trochaic kudus. But a hendecasyllable line of iambic gazelles followed by a unicorn or a bounding amphibrach are 11 syllables which delight the mind and fall "trippingly on the tongue." -
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catullus' rhino- like dactyls sounds like a dinosaur 
and trochaic kudus sounds contagious 
i feel stupid now (._.) what kind of sillabo did i use again?
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meter-challenge accepted !
I shall write a new sonnet playing around with the meter according to your guidelines ...
à très bientôt,
maa
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congratulations to all the trophy winners of the contest. I enjoyed it a lot.
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thank you so much for hosting and for the generous gift of points that came my way together with the silver trophy ...
heartfelt congratulations to allan on his double award - so well deserved ...
blessings to all,
maa
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