A sonnet is a little poem in a specific form which originated in Italy. By the 13th century it signified a poem of fourteen lines which followed a strict rhyme scheme and specific structure. In this course we will
1) discuss how conventions associated with the sonnet have evolved over its history
2) learn the rhyme scheme & versification of a Shakespearean sonnet
3) explore themes of love, time, and death in the 154 Sonnets
4) Unearth sonnets or half-sonnets hidden in Shakespeare's plays.

本課程主要的目的是帶領學生浸淫於英文的「語感」之中，跟著莎翁學英文。如游泳的人需要有「水感」，英文精進則必須有敏銳的語感。十四行詩是西方文藝復興時期流行的詩歌體，而莎士比亞的語言被認為是英語文的冠冕，猶如中國的唐詩宋詞。相對於莎劇，詩歌本身短小，於是可以反覆誦讀，專注於語言的節奏格律。以莎翁為師，模擬學習典雅精緻的語文，是一條高報酬率的捷徑。