Shakespeare's Sappy Sonnet Activity for Romeo and Juliet

Introduce your students to the classic sonnet form with this fun, creative writing exercise where learners will pen their own Shakespearean-style sappy love poem. After analyzing structural elements like iambic pentameter, rhyme scheme, and metaphorical language in Shakespeare’s sonnets, students will use the template provided to write a 14-line over-the-top admiring “sonnet” to an object or abstract concept of their choosing, just as Shakespeare did. This highly engaging poetry activity develops skills in literary devices, rhythm, rhyme, concision, and wordplay. Students will gain experience emulating the familiar Shakespearean sonnet format in an exaggerated, humorous way by picking their own outlandish muse. Perfect for enriching study of Elizabethan literature or poetry units while bringing out kids’ creativity and making sonnets memorable.