Introduction
Good day, students!
Please watch the video below for an introduction to this WebQuest about the Italian / Petrarchan sonnet.
Task
Welcome to your first WebQuest task!
Christina Rossetti's poem 'Remember' is widely considered to be a quintessential example of an Italian / Petrarchan sonnet. Its adherence to the internal and external structural characteristics of the Italian / Petrarchan sonnet is exemplary, making it an ideal poem to analyse when learning about this subgenre of poetry.
After following the steps outlined under the "Process" heading and consulting the various resources supplied, use the knowledge that you have gained about the Italian / Petrarchan sonnet to complete the following task:
Write a literary essay of 250-300 words wherein you provide a detailed analysis of the adherence of Christina Rossetti's 'Remember' to the key characteristics of an Italian / Petrarchan sonnet.
In your essay, refer to the various distinctive aspects of the Italian / Petrarchan sonnet such as:
- The rhyme scheme
- The external structure
- The internal structure
- The "volta" / "turn"
- The "problem" / "argument"
- The "answer" / "solution"
Once you have completed your essay, please submit your work via the "WebQuest - Italian Sonnet" assignment link that has been created on our Google Classroom.
Good luck and have fun!
Process
Follow the 8 steps below to guide you during your completion of this WebQuest:
Step 1:
- Before reading the poem, watch resource #1 - a pre-reading video titled “70 People Ages 5-75 Answer: What Do You Want to Be Remembered For?” to get you to start thinking about one of the major themes in Rossetti’s poem – the difficult issue of remembrance.
- Furthermore, ask yourself the following questions:
- How would you like to be remembered?
- Do you think that your answer might change in 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, even 60 years from now?
- Why do you say that and how do you think it will change?
Step 2:
- Consult p24 – p27 of the resource #2 – the link to the CAPS Mind the Gap Poetry Study Guide – and do the following:
- Read the background information on Christina Rossetti that can be found on page 24.
- Read the poem on page 24.
- Consult the glossary on page 25 if you are unfamiliar with any words and reread the poem with the definitions in mind.
- Consult the provided summary and the analysis of the poem on pages 25-27.
Step 3:
- Watch resource #3 – the YouTube video of Emma Fielding’s reading of the poem with the correct tone, tempo, intonation, and phrasing.
Step 4:
- Watch resource #4 and resource #5 which contain detailed explanations of the key characteristics of the Italian / Petrarchan sonnet.
- Be sure to make notes while you watch the video and make sure that you have a good grasp of the subgenre.
- Familiarise yourself with the following aspects:
- The internal structure
- The external structure
- The turn / volta
Step 5:
- Watch resource #6 and resource #7 to revise how to write a literary essay on a poem.
- It is of the utmost importance that you refamiliarise yourself with the format and key aspects of the literary essay.
- Familiarise yourself with the following aspects:
- The introduction / Thesis statement
- The body paragraphs and how to use the PEEL paragraph formula.
- The conclusion
- Please ensure that you adhere strictly to the format of a literary essay in your task.
Step 6:
- Consult the attached English Home Language poetry literary essay rubric under the "Evaluation" heading and familiarise yourself with the marking criteria of a literary essay.
Step 7:
- Write your essay by following the standard process writing techniques of planning, drafting, proofreading, and editing until you are satisfied with your final draft. Use the following self-assessment checklist to ensure your work is up to standard:
| SELF-ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST BEFORE SUBMISSION | ||
|---|---|---|
| Question | Yes? | No? |
| Have I used academic, mature, and professional language? | ||
| Have I answered the question? | ||
| Do I refer to the various key aspects of the Italian / Petrarchan sonnet in my essay? | ||
| Have I applied the knowledge I have gained by identifying the key aspects of the Italian / Petrarchan sonnet within Rossetti’s poem? | ||
| Have I used the PEEL paragraph method? | ||
| Do I repeatedly support my arguments with evidence from the text? | ||
| Have I consulted the rubric before submitting my essay? | ||
| Have I indicated the word total at the end of my essay? |
Step 8:
Submit your essay by uploading it on Google Classroom!
Resources:
- Consult the following online resources in the laid out order to aid you in your completion of this WebQuest!
Resource #1:
- Watch the following video as a pre-reading video to get you to start thinking about one of the central themes of Rossetti's poem - remembrance.
Resource #2:
- Click on the link below to access the CAPS "Mind the Gap!" English Home Language poetry study guide.
- The poem, biographical information, a summary, analysis, and glossary can be found on p24 - p27.
Resource #3:
- Watch the following reading of Christina Rossetti's 'Remember' performed by Emma Fielding.
Resource #4:
- Watch the following video for a detailed explanation of the external structure and key characteristics of the Italian / Petrarchan sonnet.
Resource #5:
- Watch the following video for a detailed explanation of the "volta" / "turn" - a key feature of the Italian sonnet.
Resource #6:
- Watch the following video to revise how to write a literary essay on a poem and the PEEL paragraph method you must use in your body paragraphs.
Resource #7:
- Watch the following video for further revision of the PEEL paragraph method that you must use when writing a literary essay.
Evaluation
- Below is the assessment rubric containing the marking criteria for English Home Language literary essays on poetry.
- Your essays will be marked according to this rubric, so familiarise yourself with the details thereof.
Source: https://www.ecexams.co.za/2017_September_Trial_Exams/Gr12-ENGHL-P2-SEPT2017-memo.pdf [14 August 2021]
Conclusion
By following the instructions and the process laid out in this WebQuest, you will soon see and appreciate the wonderful poetic form that is the Italian / Petrarchan sonnet. Your understanding of the structure and key characteristics of the Italian / Petrarchan sonnet will greatly assist your understanding and analysis of these wonderful poems. Remember that there are Italian sonnets in the lists of prescribed poems for Afrikaans and English Home Language, so you will encounter these types of poems in your NSC exams! The sooner you familiarise yourself with this type of poem, the better!
Furthermore, this WebQuest will provide you with an ideal opportunity to revise how to write a literary essay which you will have to complete during your NSC exams. Remember that practice makes perfect!
Good luck, enjoy the process!
Teacher Page
Michiel Adriaan Potgieter
219054711
CPUT B.Ed SPFET - Mowbray Campus