Is anyone good with analyzing sonnets?

[Casper]

Is the rhyme scheme ABBAABBACDCDCD? All I would like is confirmation on that. I am pretty certain of the octave, but the sestet confused me on if faith rhymed with breath and death.

Next,
Is there a volta in this sonnet? If there is, I am certainly having the worst time finding it.

Thanks in advance! Sorry for bothering you all with my petty problem. :-)

[lvpets2002]

Oh my me not good at all.. Karen Karen we need you to help here with this one..

[Karen]

Oh dear, Oyster I accidently hit "edit" instead of reply. Could you post the original sonnet again? Sorry!

Is the rhyme scheme ABBAABBACDCDCD? All I would like is confirmation on that. I am pretty certain of the octave, but the sestet confused me on if faith rhymed with breath and death.

Keep in mind the accent of the reader, faith is a closer rhyme in that era than in American English these days.

Next,
Is there a volta in this sonnet? If there is, I am certainly having the worst time finding it.

Thanks in advance! Sorry for bothering you all with my petty problem. :-)

" a change from one rhyme group to another signifies a change in subject matter." You have already identified where the rhyme scheme changes ...

[Casper]

Oh, thats fine.
Here it is:

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, -- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! -- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

[Husky_mom]

it does sounds like ABBA ABBA CDCDCD...

abotu the rest I have no clue what you are talking about.. LOL... sorry

[Karen]

She doesn't chance direction much at the volta, but it seems a little different, as she then is talking about I'll love you WITH and then states kinds of things, more than saying I love you and putting an adjective or adverb there.

Does this help?

[RICHARD]

Oh, thats fine.
Here it is:

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, -- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! -- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

You can love and count it, On fingers and on toes.
How much you do love, No one really knows.
You can love for today and then til tomorrow.
Or you can love, to balance out sorrow.
You can love under flourescent or just try some matches.
You can love all inclusive, or maybe in patches!
You can love in just plan view, of just out of sight,
Love just a little or love with your might.
You can love as do children, or with the power of saints.
But without love, you'll find that you ain't-
Loving and living- do it now with your breathe.
It's better now, than to try it while dead!

LOLOLOLOL,

Sorry, I can't resist doing poetry.

[Casper]

Thanks so much for the help!
Karen, I am pretty sure I get the volta now. I guess I am just so used to voltas that present a dramatic change in tone so I kept overlooking it in this sonnet. Thanks for sorting things out for me.

Haha, that is a wonderful take on the poem, Richard!
I like it tons better than the original. :-D

[Barbara]

It can be different. They main thing is that it is two 4 liners- as in ABBA ABBA - but it could also be a variation like ABAB etc. and then two 3 liners, as in CDC DCD but it could also be CDC CDC.
The one you have there is classic ABBA ABBA CDC DCD.

[Casper]

The one you have there is classic ABBA ABBA CDC DCD.

Thank you for confirming that for me. :-)


I turned my project(the nine questions) in today as I will be taking my free day tomorrow. My teacher was pleased with the work, so once again I give you all a huge thank you! I appreciate the help.