Is It One?

Worksheet Description

This worksheet is titled “Is It a Sonnet?” and is intended for students to analyze a given poem to determine whether it fits the criteria of a sonnet. It prompts the student to note the name of the poem and the poet, count the lines and syllables per line, identify the rhyme scheme, and mark the stressed and unstressed syllables in the first line. The students are also asked to consider whether the stress pattern is consistent throughout the poem and to conclude whether the poem is a sonnet, providing reasoning for their answer.

The aim of this worksheet is to teach students how to analyze a poem’s structure and to discern whether it conforms to the conventions of a sonnet. By examining the number of lines, syllable count, rhyme scheme, and rhythmic pattern, students practice the skills needed for literary analysis. This exercise encourages critical thinking as students must use evidence from the poem to support their conclusion. It also familiarizes students with the formal characteristics that define a sonnet, enhancing their understanding of this specific poetic form.