I all alone beweep my outcast state,

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

And look upon myself and curse my fate,

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,

Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,

With what I most enjoy contented least;

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

(Like to the lark at break of day arising

From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;

       For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings

       That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

A. Provide an interpretation of each sonnet. 5 sentences each, per sonnet. (5 points each, 15 points all)

Content = 3 points, Grammar and Syntax = 2 points

B. Identify the rhyme scheme present in each of the sonnets. (5 points each)

No mistakes = 5 points

One mistake = 3 points

Two mistakes = 2 points

Three mistakes = 1 point

More than three mistakes = 0 points

C. Create a sonnet based on your assignment.

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

A.

Sonnet 18 – Shakespeare

For me, this sonnet shows how love can be stronger than time. Shakespeare compares the person he loves to summer, but he says they are even better because summer is too short and sometimes harsh. I believe he is trying to say that beauty fades in real life, but poetry can keep someone alive forever. It feels like a promise that his words will protect his beloved from being forgotten. I see this sonnet as a mix of admiration and hope for eternal love.

Sonnet 75 – Edmund Spenser

This sonnet feels very real because the poet tries to write his lover’s name in the sand, but the waves erase it-just like life erases people with time. His partner tells him that trying to make things last forever is pointless. But he doesn’t give up—he believes his poetry can make her memory live on. I think the sonnet is about how writing can fight against time and death. It shows the faith of a lover who believes words can keep love alive forever.

“When I Consider How My Light Is Spent” – John Milton

I feel like this sonnet is Milton’s way of sharing his struggle with losing his eyesight. He wonders if he is still useful to God since he can no longer do the work he used to. As a student, I connect with his feeling of doubt, like when I feel I’m not doing enough. But he learns that serving God is not just about action, but also about patience and faith. For me, this sonnet teaches that even in weakness, we can still have value.

B.

Sonnet 18 – Shakespeare

Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

The first quatrain shows the pattern and this is how shakespearean pattern.

“day” (A)

“temperate” (B)

“May” (A)

“date” (B)

Sonnet 75 – Spenser

Rhyme scheme: ABAB BCBC CDCD EE
At the start of the sonnet:

“strand” (A)

“waves” (B)

“hand” (A)

“graves” (B)
The alternating rhymes continue, then the “BCBC” pattern links the second quatrain.In the end, the couplet “immortalize/eternize” (EE) finishes the poem.

“When I Consider How My Light Is Spent” – John Milton

Rhyme scheme: ABBA ABBA CDE CDE
In the octave:

“spent” (A)

“wide” (B)

“hide” (B)

“present” (A)
This creates the ABBA pattern. In the sestet, lines rhyme like “denied” (C), “best” (D), “rest” (E), “state” (C), “wait” (D), “speed” (E), showing the CDE CDE arrangement.

C. I searched for answers, lost in endless night,
Yet stumbled on a path I did not know.
A sudden spark turned darkness into light,
And led me where the sweetest blessings grow.

A stranger’s smile became a trusted friend,
A failed attempt revealed a brighter way.
What seemed like loss was kindness in the end,
A gift of chance that brightened up my day.

Not all is planned, nor should it always be,
For joy can bloom where none of us expect.
Life’s accidents bring hidden harmony,
A twist of fate too precious to reject.

So let me walk with hope, and I shall see,
The quiet grace of true serendipity.

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGLISH-CHINESE 3A

ACTIVITY #1

A. Provide an interpretation...

1. “Sonnet 54” by Edmund Spenser

Of this world's theatre in which we stay,

My love like the spectator idly sits

Beholding me that all the pageants play,

Disguising diversely my troubled wits.

Sometimes I joy when glad occasion fits,

And mask in mirth like to a comedy:

Soon after when my joy to sorrow flits,

I wail and make my woes a tragedy.

Yet she, beholding me with constant eye,

Delights not in my mirth nor rues my smart:

But when I laugh she mocks, and when I cry

She laughs and hardens evermore her heart.

What then can move her? if nor mirth nor moan,

She is no woman, but a senseless stone.

This poem feels like the speaker is baring his soul, showing both his happiness and his pain, but the person he loves doesn’t respond at all. He sees his life as a play, where he shifts between comedy and tragedy, yet she only watches from the sidelines. What makes it worse is that instead of showing care, she mocks his laughter and even laughs when he cries. That kind of indifference feels heavier than rejection because it makes his emotions seem meaningless. In the end, he realizes that if neither joy nor sorrow can move her, then she must be as unfeeling as a stone.

2. “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Looking deeply with the details presented, this poem makes me feel like the Statue of Liberty isn’t just a statue, but a mother figure who opens her arms to people who have nowhere else to go. She isn’t about power or showing off, but about giving hope to the tired, the poor, and the broken. I love how her torch is like a light that guides people who are lost toward a new beginning. Instead of riches or pride, she asks for those who need help the most, which feels so warm and human. To me, she stands as a reminder that there’s always a place where kindness and welcome can still exist.

3. “Sonnet 29” by William Shakespeare

When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,

I all alone beweep my outcast state,

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

And look upon myself and curse my fate,

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,

Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,

With what I most enjoy contented least;

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

(Like to the lark at break of day arising

From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's gate;

For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings

That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

This sonnet feels so real to me because it captures those moments when I feel small, unlucky, and left behind while everyone else seems more blessed. The speaker admits to envying other people’s talents, looks, and friendships, and I can relate to that heavy feeling of not being enough. But what moves me is how all of that fades the moment he remembers the person he loves—it’s like suddenly finding light after being trapped in darkness. That love lifts him up, like a lark rising to sing at heaven’s gate, filling him with joy that nothing else can give. In the end, he realizes that this love is so precious, he wouldn’t trade places with a king—and I find that truth both comforting and beautiful.

B. Identify the rhyme scheme...

1. “Sonnet 54” by Edmund Spenser - ABAB BCBC DEDE FF

stay (A)

sits (B)

play (A)

wits (B)

fits (B)

comedy (C)

flits (B)

tragedy (C)

eye (D)

smart (E)

cry (D)

heart (E)

moan (F)

stone (F)

2. “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus - ABBAABBA CDCDCD

fame (A)

land (B)

stand (B)

flame (A)

name (A)

hand (B)

command (B)

frame (A)

she (C)

poor (D)

free (C)

shore (D)

me (C)

door (D)

3. “Sonnet 29” by William Shakespeare - ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

eyes (A)

state (B)

cries (A)

fate (B)

hope (C)

possessed (D)

scope (C)

least (D)

despising (E)

state (F)

arising (E)

gate (F)

brings (G)

kings (G)

C. Shakespearean Sonnet.

Too Rich for Silence

I kept you hid within a secret place, (A)

A jewel buried deep from mortal sight; (B)

I feared the world would mar your gentle grace, (A)

And thus I veiled your fire from the light. (B)

Yet flames unbound will climb through stone and air, (C)

And light must pierce the darkest shade of night; (D)

The heart once chained resounds a louder prayer, (C)

And shadows yield before your rising bright. (D)

What worth has gold if never meets the sun? (E)

What song has bird if silence binds its throat? (F)

Our love too strong, its course could not be run, (E)

A truth too vast for secrecy to float. (F)

So now unveiled, our treasure stands confessed, (G)

Too rich for night, by morning’s fire possessed. (G)

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

A. Provide an interpretation of each sonnet. 5 sentences each, per sonnet. (5 points each, 15 points all)

Sonnet 54 by Edmund Spencer

The poem talks about a person's life like in a theater world, where he acts out many emotions or makes efforts to win his beloved’s heart. However, his beloved remains cold and nonchalant no matter what he does. She is showing no joy when he is glad and no pity when he suffers. This made me feel the frustration of the person, especially when he says his beloved mocks his laughter. Therefore, this poem shows how painful it is to love someone who won’t love you back, despite you showing your every side and exerting a lot of effort. 

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

I feel that the speaker of this poem is a kind and thoughtful mother who wants to help people. As she is holding a torch that looks like lightning, it can indicate a light of hope and home for people who are lost. The line that stands out to me is when she says, “Give me your tired, your poor,” because it feels so welcoming, no question asked, only open arms awaiting. She doesn’t ask for rich or powerful people, but for those who are struggling. Her lamp beside the golden door makes me imagine America as a warm and bright place, that America is not always about power. 

Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

This poem truly resonates with me, as I find myself relating to it as it compares oneself to others and feeling left out. The poet talks about being troubled and even feeling ignored by heaven, which reminds me of times I feel like nothing is going right in my life. But what I like in this poem is how this suddenly changes when he thinks of someone he loves. It is like his sadness lifts, and his heart feels light again, because, indeed, remembering people who care about me also cheers me up. This poem shows that even if life feels unfair, having someone who loves you makes you richer than a king. 

B. Identify the rhyme scheme present in each of the sonnets. (5 points each)

Sonnet 54 by Edmund Spenser

Spenserian sonnet: ABAB BCBC DEDE FF

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus 

Petrarchan sonnet: ABBA ABBA CDCD CD

Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

Shakespearean sonnet: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

C. Create a sonnet based on your assignment.

Shakespearean sonnet

BOUNDLESS LOVE

For I am within you, I feel fearless, (A)

I can sail along the enormous wave, (B)

Even rambling mountains high and gearless, (A)

All I can beat, for you have made me brave. (B)

Their whispers may hurt like an open wound, (C)

But your embrace heals my torn affection. (D)

So let us still continue all we could, (C)

Without minding those of their reaction. (D)

Though storms appear and skies may turn in gray, (E)

Your light still trails me in the darkest night. (F)

No cuffs can break the love we both display, (E)

Our steadfast hearts make every burden light. (F)

So let them speak, for they shall never see, (G)

The boundless love that sets our spirits free. (G)

ENGL 513

BSE ENGLISH CHINESE 3-A

Renaissance Period activity

A. (Interpretation)

1. Amoretti LIV: Of this worlds Theatre in which we stay

   For me, this sonnet tells us how someone we care for will not usually react or feel the same way. In short, I interpret this sonnet as one-sided feelings.

   The sonnet explains how the world is a theater, "Of this world's Theatre in which we stay." The speaker, or author, is presumably the "actor," and the woman mentioned is a spectator. The speaker mentioned how they act to display their emotions. In contrast, the woman would react differently, and she cannot be swayed by anything, hence a senseless stone.

2. The New Colossus

   It is as if the sonnet is glorifying the Statue of Liberty. It is also compared to the Greek statue "Colossus of Rhodes" due to the line, conquering limbs astried land to land. Just like the name of the bronze statue, "Statue of Liberty," this sonnet also tries to capture the essence of being free. Perhaps it's also trying to send the message that the Statue of Liberty is welcoming immigrants to stay in United States. "Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
   Glows world-wide welcome."

3. Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes

   In this sonnet, it seems like there are two sides to this. I think it tells us how humans can feel isolated at times — how we envy those people who are more privileged than us, and wish that we could have the same fate as them. However, on the following lines, the sonnet or the speaker tells us that we should remember the people who make us happy and feel loved, as a result, it makes us feel contented in life, and how love is the greatest treasure a man could have.

B. Rhyme Schemes

1. Amoretti LIV: Of this worlds Theatre in which we stay

   = ABAB BCBC DEDE FF

2. The New Colossus

   = ABBA ABBA CDCD CD

3. Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes

   = ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

C. My sonnet, (I don't have any title, one thing for sure, I wrote this for someone....far away, hahaha)

Thou appeared like a bubble in summer. When sun casted its sunrays upon thee, Thy body makes me croon like a Hummer. Hence I crave thy presence with sin and glee.

Thy soft lips like silks is what mine desire; God forbid yours is a thousand miles far. Seasons passed, but my heart still blazes fire;

But the door to thy heart is still ajar.

Could force it open like what others would.

Yet I refuse, for you're my precious most. Would ye be so kind like a lover should,

Aid me to not let our love fade like ghost,

I promise thee a love everlasting

To withstand any force like a bowstring.

(Shakespearean sonnet rhyme scheme)

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY 1

A.

Amoretti LIV: Of this worlds Theatre in which we stay

Edmund Spenser

His work kind of resembles “All the World’s a Stage” by Wiliam Shakespeare. In the sonnet, it describes life using the words “comedy” and “tragedy” which are concepts present in a drama, where one is happiness and one is sadness. However, it pertains not only to life, with living it in many forms, he made mention of “his love” that “ydly sits.” This love of him is somehow directed to a woman whom he described as a “senseless stone,” which made me realize that it is no love but something of a realization from the poet’s perspective. That love, in this world, is not always a blessing but sometimes just something that is a stone meant to trip. 

The New Colossus

Emma Lazarus

It made me cry, the picture of the Statue of Liberty flashed suddenly in my mind, with these words of hope coming from it. It is the New Colossus that does welcome and hugs those in need. The Mother of Exiles fits her, as she hugged those who flee tyranny in in Britain. The last few lines of “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore” reminded me of how the America we knew today gave hope of new beginnings to many people. And the lines “Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! “are striking, a vivid imagery of her leading the people towards the free, towards hope, reminding that America is a country of migrants and the history tells how it became one of the most successful countries in the world.

Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes

William Shakespeare

A sonnet of self-pity, of understanding one’s fate and hopelessness. It is tragic in a sense as it talks about his life being somehow cursed. But it shows how life suddenly turns around when the thought of the lover comes. “Like to the lark at break of day arising from sullen earth” is a part of the poem that makes me vividly see revival, similar to a phoenix rising from the ashes, this one uses a lark rising, flying, melodiously singing in the crack of dawn. When all the hope was lost, love is something that aids us to keep on moving forward in life.

B.

Amoretti LIV: Of this worlds Theatre in which we stay

ABABBCBCDEDEFF

The New Colossus

ABBAABBACDCDCD

Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes

ABABCDCDEFEFGG

C.

Sonnet of Manila

I once saw Manila beneath the waves,
pushed into a naval battle, not hers.
And after, the rolling and beeps of hearse,
echoed into its already old grave.
Once was a beauty, now a dying slave,
drenched in mud, in putrid waste none could pave,
surrounded by the sea, now being theirs,
what once was paradise, none left to save.
For it was melodious before it was found.

For it was pure before desecrated,
by a King, a Rebel, and a Shinto.
But when the night passed and gone are the hounds,
and the fertile soil is once more sacred,
I’ll cry, to God, of thanks, for we are through.

PAG-IWAYAN, MAE ANN S.

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY#1

A.

Sonnet 54 – Edmund Spenser

I feel like Spenser is showing how painful it is when love is one-sided. When He compares life to a theater where he plays out both comedy (when he laughs) and tragedy (when he cries). But his beloved does not respond—whether he is joyful or sorrowful, she remains cold and unmoved. I can relate to this because sometimes I also feel that people I care about don’t notice my emotions. For me, the poem expresses frustration: what is the use of showing feelings if the one you love is like “a senseless stone”? It reminds me that love without response can feel empty, no matter how passionately we perform it.

Emma Lazarus’s The New Colossus.

When I read this sonnet, The Statue of Liberty not as just a statue, but as a living symbol of hope. For me, the poem contrasts old empires, which were proud and showy, with a new vision of America as a land that welcomes the weak, the poor, and the displaced. As I picture myself as one of the “tired” or “poor,” and I can feel how powerful it would be to arrive in a new land and see this “mighty woman with a torch” holding out her light to me. The poem makes me think of kindness, belonging, and how important it is for a country to care more about people’s humanity than about power or wealth.

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29

This poem make me feel the weight of Shakespeare’s loneliness and self-doubt. He talks about being looked down on by others, crying to heaven without an answer, and wishing he had other people’s talents, looks, or friendships. I can really connect with this because sometimes I also compare myself to others and feel like I’m not good enough. But what strikes me is how quickly his mood changes when he remembers the one he loves. It’s like all the envy and sadness vanish, and his heart feels as free and joyful as a lark rising into the sky. Personally, this reminds me that love and meaningful connections can give me more happiness than any wealth or success.

B.

1. This is a Shakespearean sonnet, ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

A – Of this world’s theatre in which we stay,
B – My love like the spectator idly sits
A – Beholding me that all the pageants play,
B – Disguising diversely my troubled wits.

C – Sometimes I joy when glad occasion fits,
D – And mask in mirth like to a comedy:
C – Soon after when my joy to sorrow flits,
D – I wail and make my woes a tragedy.

E – Yet she, beholding me with constant eye,
F – Delights not in my mirth nor rues my smart:
E – But when I laugh she mocks, and when I cry
F – She laughs and hardens evermore her heart.

G – What then can move her? if nor mirth nor moan,
G – She is no woman, but a senseless stone.

2. This is a Petrarchan sonnet ABBAABBA CDCDCD)
A – Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
B – With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
B – Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A – A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

A – Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
B – Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
B – Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
A – The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

C – “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
D – With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
C – Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

D – The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
C – Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
D – I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

3. This is a Shakespearean sonnet ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

   A – When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
   B – I all alone beweep my outcast state,
   A – And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
   B – And look upon myself and curse my fate,

   C – Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
   D – Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
   C – Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
   D – With what I most enjoy contented least;

   E – Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
   F – Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
   E – (Like to the lark at break of day arising
   F – From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;

   G – For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
   G – That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

C.

Where Roots Holds Fast

Petrarchan sonnet – ABBAABBA CDECDE

A – Love is an oak that stands through wind and rain,
B – Its roots go deep where hidden waters keep,
B – Though branches bend and storms may make it weep,
A – It rises tall, renewed through joy and pain.

A – The bark bears scars, yet none are left in vain,
B – Each mark a memory rooted strong and deep;
B – Through winter’s frost, through summers long and steep,
A – It holds the earth and will not break its chain.

C – For love, like oak, may bend but will not fall,
D – Its roots unseen still bind it to the ground,
E – A steadfast strength that shelters over all.

C – Though seasons change and tempests rage around,
D – The oak of love stands patient, firm, and tall,
E – Its quiet power in the heart is found.

1. In Sonnet 54 by Edmund Spencer, I see how he uses the image of life as a theater to show the struggle of unrequited love. The speaker’s shifting roles between comedy and tragedy remind me of how people try different ways to win someone’s affection. Yet, despite his efforts, the beloved stays unmoved, highlighting the pain of giving so much and receiving nothing in return. It makes me reflect on the reality that love cannot be forced, no matter how hard one tries. In the end, the poem speaks to the deep sadness of realizing that some hearts will always remain closed.

2. Emma Lazarus’ The New Colossus reimagines the Statue of Liberty not as a symbol of power, like the ancient Greek Colossus, but as a compassionate figure who welcomes the weary and displaced. By calling her the “Mother of Exiles,” Lazarus turns Lady Liberty into a kind of guardian who offers both shelter and dignity to immigrants. The poem makes a clear contrast between old-world pride and America’s promise of refuge, rejecting “storied pomp” in favor of hope and inclusion. What really stands out is how Lazarus gives the statue a voice, almost like she’s alive, reaching out to the tired and poor with her light. In the end, the poem positions the Statue of Liberty as more than just a monument—it becomes a living symbol of America’s identity as a nation built on compassion and opportunity.

3. In Sonnet 29, Shakespeare’s speaker begins by expressing deep feelings of isolation, jealousy, and despair, wishing he could be more fortunate, talented, or admired like other men. He feels abandoned by both society and even by heaven, which he thinks ignores his cries. However, the turning point of the poem comes when he remembers the person he loves, and this thought alone transforms his mood. He compares this shift to a lark rising joyfully at dawn, suggesting that love has the power to lift him out of darkness and into light. By the end, he realizes that the love he has is so valuable that he would not trade places with even the most powerful king.

B.

1. Sonnet 54 by Edmund Spenser

Spenserian Sonnet

Rhyme scheme: ABAB BCBC DEDE FF

Stay (A)

Sits (B)

Play (A)

Wits (B)

Fits (B)

Comedy (C)

Flits (B)

Tragedy (C)

Eye (D)

Smart (E)

Cry (D)

Heart (E)

Moan (F)

Stone (F)

2. The New Colossus – Emma Lazarus

Petrarchan Sonnet

Rhyme scheme: ABBA ABBA CDCDCD

Fame (A)

Land (B)

Stand (B)

Flame (A)

Name (A)

Hand (B)

Command (B)

Frame (A)

She (C)

Poor (D)

Free (C)

Shore (D)

Me (C)

Door (D)

3. Sonnet 29 – William Shakespeare

Shakespearean Sonnet

Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

Eyes (A)

State (B)

Cries (A)

Fate (B)

Hope (C)

Possessed (D)

Scope (C)

Least (D)

Despising (E)

State (F)

Arising (E)

Gate (F)

Brings (G)

Kings (G)

3. Petrarchan Sonnet: The Lover Girl’s Wish

ABBA ABBA CDECDE

I love the way that love paints skies with gold, (A)

It blooms in morning texts like flowers new, (B)

In gentle notes, in kisses soft and true, (B)

A warmth that keeps the heart from growing cold. (A)

Its glow runs wild, a river uncontrolled, (A)

It spills through all I dream, in all I do; (B)

Though thorns may pierce, I’d chase the rose’s hue, (B)

For better scars than emptiness to hold. (A)

But if love finds me, let it not be flame (C)

That burns with lust, then fades without a mark; (D)

Let him see soul and mind, not skin alone. (E)

A steady hand, a voice that calls my name, (C)

A lantern bright against the doubting dark, (D)

Who daily proves my worth is all his own. (E)

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

A. Provide an interpretation of each sonnet. 5 sentences each, per sonnet. (5 points each, 15 points all) Content 3 points, Grammar and Syntax = 2 points

Of this world’s theatre in which we stay

Edmund Spenser

I saw this piece when I was doing a background check about Edmund Spencer for our discussion last last week. ^^ This sonnet is a stage where love is mocked. The man acts, weeps, performs every role, but the woman he loves is unshaken—stone, senseless, cruel in her silence. What Spenser shows is not devotion, but humiliation: love reduced to a comedy that no one laughs at, a tragedy no one cries for. And isn’t that the worst fate of all? To pour out your whole soul, and find that the person you gave it to is nothing but a wall?

The New Colossus

Emma Lazarus

This doesn’t sound like a statue to me, it sounds like someone talking back to the world. When she says, “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” it’s almost like she’s rolling her eyes at the old powers and their pride. The statue isn’t cold or distant—it feels like a mother, opening her arms to people who have nothing left. What I like here is that it doesn’t honor wealth or glory; it honors survival, the simple need to breathe and belong. We live in such a cruel world and this feels more powerful than any throne.

Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes

William Shakespeare

I feel like this is the voice of a man crushed by envy, chained by shame. He sees himself as nothing, begging for the luck, the talent, the friends of others. But then comes the turning point: love. Just the thought of it is enough to tear away the chains, enough to lift him like the lark breaking free at dawn. Shakespeare shows us that love is not decoration—it is revolution. It can drag a soul from the mud and set it singing in the sky.

B. Identify the rhyme scheme present in each of the sonnets. (5 points each) No mistakes = 5 points One mistake = 3 points Two mistakes = 2 points Three mistakes = 1 point More than three mistakes = 0 points

Of this world’s theatre in which we stay // Edmund Spenser

ABAB BCBC CDCD EE

(This is the true Spenserian sonnet form, which links the quatrains together with interlocking rhymes and ends with a rhymed couplet.)

The New Colossus // Emma Lazarus

ABBA ABBA CDCDCD

(This one follows the Petrarchan/Italian sonnet form — an octave and a sestet.)

Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes // William Shakespeare

ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

(This is Shakespeare’s usual sonnet form — three quatrains and a couplet.)

C. Create a sonnet based on your assignment.

Upon a Ravished Bloom

Lo, see the rose that hangs her wounded head,

Her colour drain’d, her petals strewn in dust;

She mourns the hour when cruel fingers fed,

And turn’d her tender bloom to lifeless rust.

Not first her grace, but first the hand I name,

Whose grasp profan’d the shrine of Nature’s art;

That hand, unholy, wrought a scar of shame,

And pluck’d the sweetness bleeding from her heart.

What joy to rend what time so long had rear’d?

What gain to mar what Heaven’s breath had crown’d?

Yet silence reigns, where once the birds were heard,

And earth lies still, as if by grief spell-bound.

O cursed hand, thou leav’st a thorny tomb,

Where love of life lies buried in her bloom.

Upon a Ravished Bloom follows the Shakespearean sonnet form:

ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

• First quatrain (ABAB): head (A), dust (B), fed (A), rust (B)

• Second quatrain (CDCD): name (C), art (D), shame (C), heart (D)

• Third quatrain (EFEF): rear’d (E), crown’d (F), heard (E), bound (F)

• Couplet (GG): tomb (G), bloom (G)

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

A. Interpretation

Amoretti LIV: Of this World’s Theatre in Which We Stay

In this poem, the author highlights the theme of unrequited love. Spenser compares the world to a theater, where every person acts like an actor in a play. Each person has their own role in life, but the author’s role is one of sadness and unreturned love. In the sonnet, it is clear that while the persona suffers, the girl he loves remains unmoved. The lines, “But when I laugh she mocks, and when I cry / She laughs and hardens evermore her heart,” say it all. It feels like performing for an audience that does not value your talent. This poem shows the pain of loving someone wholeheartedly when that love cannot be reciprocated, perhaps because they cannot see us the way we see them.

The New Colossus

The first time I read the poem, I didn’t understand it. But as I read it again and again, it really made me cry because the Statue of Liberty is just like my mother, willing to offer her all for us, her children. She is called the mother of those who are homeless. Her hospitality makes the statue even more important. It is not just a statue—it is a symbol of humanity. By lifting her lamp beside the “golden door,” she becomes a symbol of freedom, opportunity, and new beginnings for everyone.

Sonnet 29

This sonnet is relatable to many people because it shows a phase that everyone goes through. There are moments in life when we feel unlucky, and everything seems pointless. During these times, thinking about the person we love or value most can ease the pain we feel inside. The poem reminds us that love brings true happiness and hope even in the darkest moments. It also shows that being loved is so precious that we would not trade it for power or even the life of a king.

B. Rhyme Scheme

1. Amoretti LIV: Of this World’s Theatre in Which We Stay - ABAB BCBC DEDEFF

2. The New Colossus - ABBA ABBA CDCDCD

3. Sonnet 29 - ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

C. The Chosen Path

I am the child they say will change the years (A)
The one to break the chain that holds us fast (B)
To rise and shine, to heal the hurting past (B)
And wipe away my family’s hidden tears. (A)

Their voices call, their hope is loud with fears, (A)
They see in me a torch that yet will last, (B)
Though I am young, my heart beats full and vast, (B)
I bear their dreams, their prayers, and their cares. (A)

The road to school is steep and hard to climb, (C)
But still I walk, though heavy is the load, (D)
I know my steps are not for me alone. (E)

One day I’ll rise, and all will see in time (C)
The youngest child has walked the brightest road, (D)
And gave a light that all the rest were shown. (E)

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

A.

1. "Sonnet 54" by Edmund Spenser

Interpretation:

In this sonnet, the speaker compares life to a theater where he performs different emotions, while his lover watches without reacting. He plays many roles depending on his feelings—sometimes he is joyful and acts in a lighthearted comedy, and other times he is sorrowful and turns his life into a tragedy—but she remains unmoved; she even mocks him when he laughs and grows colder when he cries. The poet then wonders: if neither his joy nor his sorrow can move her, can she really be called a woman at all? To him, she seems less like a human being and more like a lifeless stone, incapable of love or compassion. The sonnet makes me think about how important it is for love to be true and understanding, not cold and unfeeling; if someone doesn’t respond to your emotions at all, it feels like they aren’t really a person who loves back, but just a stone without a heart.

2. "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus

Interpretation:

To me, this sonnet feels like a warm, open-armed welcome to people who have nowhere else to go, offering them hope when they’ve lost everything. It paints the Statue of Liberty not as a symbol of power or pride, but as a kind and strong figure who truly cares about those who are hurting. I see it as a powerful reminder that America was meant to be a safe place for the broken, the poor, and the forgotten from all around the world. The way she lifts her lamp makes me think of someone holding a light in the dark, guiding others to safety and new chances. It reminds me of the responsibility to live up to those words by showing real kindness and acceptance to those in need, and by treating others with love, no matter where they come from or what they’ve been through.

3. "Sonnet 29" by William Shakespeare

Interpretation:

This poem feels deeply personal to me because it speaks about moments when we feel low, alone, and not good enough compared to others. The writer talks about being full of self-doubt, wishing he had someone else's looks, talents, or life, which is something I think many of us can relate to. But then, in the middle of all that sadness, he remembers someone he loves, and just thinking of that person lifts him up like a bird rising into the morning sky. That simple memory brings him so much joy and peace that he wouldn’t trade places even with a king. It reminds me how powerful love or even a single good thought can be when we’re feeling lost or unhappy.

B.

1. Amoretti LIV: Of this worlds Theatre in which we stay -

ABAB BCBC DEDE FF

2. The New Colossus -

ABBA ABBA CDCD CD

3. Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes -

ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

C.

The Path from Masks to Light

Upon life’s stage, I wear my many masks,

From laughter’s light to sorrow’s heavy veil,

Yet she, cold-hearted, in her silence asks

No joy, no grief, can make her spirit quail.

Like stone unmoved by tear or merry tale,

She mocks my pain, and shuns my deepest cries,

While hope still glows where freedom’s lamps prevail,

A guiding light beneath forgiving skies.

To those cast out, a beacon’s flame shall rise,

A mother’s love for broken souls to keep,

With open arms, she hears their silent cries,

And offers dreams once lost, now safe from sleep.

Though shadows fall, one thought can lift the deep—

A love remembered makes the spirit leap.

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

A.

🐾Sonnet 54: Of this worlds Theatre in which we stay by Edmund Spenser🐾

This sonnet reflects on the fleeting nature of life by comparing the world to a stage where people play their roles. Spenser contrasts outward appearances with inner virtue, suggesting that true worth lies not in beauty but in spiritual integrity. He uses the image of roses—some fragrant, some scentless—to symbolize how only those with genuine virtue leave a lasting legacy. The poem ultimately affirms that eternal life comes through faith and moral purity, not earthly fame. Its reflective tone emphasizes the importance of inner truth over superficial charm.

🐾The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus🐾

This sonnet celebrates America as a beacon of hope and refuge for the oppressed and displaced. Through the powerful metaphor of the "Mother of Exiles," the Statue of Liberty is personified as a compassionate guardian welcoming the "huddled masses." Lazarus contrasts this ideal with the imperial might of ancient civilizations, emphasizing compassion over conquest. The poem's voice shifts from critique to invitation, extending a call to those suffering abroad. Its enduring message—empathy, freedom, and the dignity of immigrants—is still a relevant topic for this era.

🐾Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes by William Shakespeare🐾

The speaker begins in deep despair, feeling unlucky, scorned, and envious of others’ success and talents. His isolation and sense of failure make him question his worth and cry out to an unresponsive heaven. Then a turning point occurs when he thinks of his beloved, which lifts his spirits like a meadow lark singing at dawn. This shift transforms his mood from self-pity to profound gratitude and emotional richness. Shakespeare ultimately reveals how love can redeem even the darkest moments of loneliness and self-doubt.

🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

B.

🐾Sonnet 54: Of this worlds Theatre in which we stay by Edmund Spenser🐾

ABAB-BCBC-CDCD-EE

🐾The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus🐾

ABBA-ABBA-CDC-DCD

🐾Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes by William Shakespeare🐾

ABAB-CDCD-EFEF-GG

🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

C. Shakesperean

His Meowjesty

When I behold thy regal, purring grace,  

Thou claim’st the throne of hearth and home with pride;  

No mere house cat, but lord of time and space,  

In velvet coat and eyes both deep and wide.  

Thou deign’st to grace my lap with noble weight,   

A purr that rumbles like a thunder low;  

Thy every yawn commands my hand and fate,  

And all my duties bend to thy soft "meow."  

Thou wakest when the sun dares kiss thy bed,  

Stretchest like a king who owns the light;  

Silk and cushions bow beneath thy tread,  

And every meal is served just left of right.  

   So reign, sweet Bossing, vain and ever fair—    

   The world’s too plain a gift to match thy air.  

🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

Elyzha Khris V. Sarmiento

and Bossing (his Meowjesty checked the grammar and supervised po)

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

A. Provide an interpretation of each sonnet. 5 sentences each, per sonnet.

Edmund Spenser’s Sonnet 54
> I think the persona compares love to a dramatic performance, presenting the shifting emotions of people like joy, sorrow, laughter, and tears, while his beloved remains only a detached audience member. She watches the performance without emotion, neither moved nor touched by the situation. Instead of responding to his love, “she laughs and hardens her heart.” This leads both the persona and the reader to a bitter realization that not all love is reciprocated. The poem captures his deep frustration at her lack of empathy.

Emma Lazarus’s The New Colossus
> While reading the poem, I feel a deep longing for warmth and safety, a call for empathy. I think it is not only talking about the statue but also about the deeper symbolism of the torch as light, hope, and freedom. Her words, “Give me your tired, your poor,” strike me as an embrace for anyone who has ever felt unwanted or cast aside. I see the poem as a reminder that the true essence of greatness lies in giving others a chance to live with dignity. The poem conveys both the sadness of exile and the joy of being welcomed somewhere new.

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29

> The sonnet started with feelings of sadness and envy. He feels that he is an outcast and rejected by society. He compares himself to others who seem happier and successful, cursing himself and feeling worthless. However, when he remembers the person he loves, just the thought of that love lifts him out of the loneliness. It reminds us that love itself is powerful and priceless, something that we cannot trade for anything, no matter how valuable it may be.

B. Identify the rhyme scheme present in each of the sonnets.

Edmund Spenser’s Sonnet 54

Of this world’s theatre in which we stay, (A)  

My love like the spectator idly sits (B)  

Beholding me that all the pageants play, (A)  

Disguising diversely my troubled wits. (B)  

Sometimes I joy when glad occasion fits, (B)  

And mask in mirth like to a comedy: (C)  

Soon after when my joy to sorrow flits, (B)  

I wail and make my woes a tragedy. (C)  

Yet she, beholding me with constant eye, (C)  

Delights not in my mirth nor rues my smart: (D)  

But when I laugh she mocks, and when I cry (C)  

She laughs and hardens evermore her heart. (D)  

What then can move her? if nor mirth nor moan, (E)  

She is no woman, but a senseless stone. (E)  

Rhyme scheme: ABAB BCBC CDCD EE (Spenserian sonnet).

Emma Lazarus’s The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, (A)  

With conquering limbs astride from land to land; (B)  

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand (B)  

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame (A)  

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name (A)  

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand (B)  

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command (B)  

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. (A)  

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she (C)  

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, (D)  

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, (C)  

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. (D)  

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, (C)  

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” (D)  

Rhyme scheme: ABBAABBA CDCDCD (Petrarchan sonnet).

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes, (A)  

I all alone beweep my outcast state, (B)  

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, (A)  

And look upon myself and curse my fate, (B)  

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, (C)  

Featured like him, like him with friends possessed, (D)  

Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope, (C)  

With what I most enjoy contented least; (D)  

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, (E)  

Haply I think on thee, and then my state, (B)  

(Like to the lark at break of day arising (E)  

From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate; (B)  

For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings (F)  

That then I scorn to change my state with kings. (F) 

Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EBEB FF (Shakespearean sonnet)

C. Create a sonnet based on your assignment. (HALAYAHAY - SP)

FREEDOM’S CRY

The shadows whisper softly, call my name, (A)

The chains of old still burn and keep me bound, (B)

These walls remind me only of my shame, (A)

And echoes cry within, a haunting sound. (B)

The moon turns red and paints the sky with dread, (B)

My weary steps still drag through endless night, (C)

Though voices call, they reach no ear of dread, (B)

I chase the hope that hides beyond my sight. (C)

The footsteps near, I feel their chilling breath, (C)

They hunt me close, though I can’t see their face, (D)

Blood stains my hands, I see the hand of death, (C)

Yet still I run, still longing for release. (D)

At last I break the chains that held me long, (E)

And find my freedom in the night’s new song. (E)

Rhyme scheme: ABAB BCBC CDCD EE (Spenserian sonnet).

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGLISH-CHINESE 3A

ACTIVITY #1

A. (Interpretation)

1. "Sonnet 54" by Edmund Spenser

   This sonnet reveals the pain of unrequited love through the metaphor of life as a theater. The speaker plays both comedy and tragedy, baring joy and sorrow, while the woman he loves remains a distant spectator. His laughter is mocked, his tears provoke only cruelty, and her indifference feels heavier than rejection. In the end, he concludes that if neither joy nor grief can move her, she must be as unfeeling as stone. Spenser thus captures the anguish of one-sided love and the futility of emotions unreturned.

2. "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus

   The poem shows the Statue of Liberty as a caring figure who welcomes people who are tired and in need. Instead of being a symbol of power, she is called the “Mother of Exiles,” which makes her seem gentle and protective. Her torch is like a light that guides the poor and lost toward safety and hope. She does not ask for the rich or strong but opens her arms to those who are struggling. In the end, the statue becomes a symbol of America as a place of kindness, welcome, and new chances.

3. "Sonnet 29" by William Shakespeare

   I think this sonnet is a journey from envy to gratitude, showing the transformation of the speaker’s state of mind. At first, he feels disgraced, powerless, and envious of others who seem richer in hope, talent, friends, or opportunities, which drives him into self-pity and even self-contempt. This despair highlights how easily people can feel inadequate when they compare their worth against the successes of others, leaving them blind to their own blessings. The turning point comes when the speaker remembers the love he shares with someone dear, which instantly uplifts him and changes his entire perspective.

B. Rhyme Schemes

"Sonnet 54" by Edmund Spenser

• ABAB BCBC DEDE FF

  "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus

• ABBA ABBA CDCDCD

  "Sonnet 29" by William Shakespeare

• ABAB CDCD EFEF

C. Petrarchan Sonnet

Between The Heavens And The Earth

I will stand with you between the heavens and the earth, (A)
I will tell you where you are, though shadows fall; (B)
When silence rises like a darkened wall, (B)
My voice will anchor you, affirm your worth. (A)
The stars may wander, losing track of birth, (A)
The seas may surge, the mountains trembling tall, (B)
Yet love endures beyond the changes all (B)
A flame that guards the fragile soul from dearth. (A)

So when you doubt the course your spirit takes, (C)
Or fear the night has stolen all your guide, (D)
Know I will light the path the darkness; (E)
My hand, unshaken, my heart awakes. (C)
Between all worlds, forever by your side, (D)
My vow is sealed, forever filled with happiness. (E)

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

I.

Sonnet 54 by Edmund Spenser

In Sonnet 54, Edmund Spenser compares love to a performance, showing how deeply exhausting and painful it can feel when all your passion and effort go unnoticed. It speaks to that very human ache of pouring your heart out, almost like putting on a show, only to realize the one person you want to reach is unmoved or uninterested. Reading it, I feel the frustration of trying everything just to be seen, and yet being left invisible. What makes the sonnet powerful is how it captures the vulnerability of love, where you can feel both hopeful and broken at the same time, as though your emotions are on stage for an audience of one who refuses to applaud. For me, it’s a reminder that love isn’t always mutual, and sometimes the hardest part is realizing that even your most sincere expressions can be dismissed like nothing at all.

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

In The New Colossus, Emma Lazarus gives us an image of America not as a land of pride and conquest, but as the “Mother of Exiles,” a motherly figure who opens her arms to those who have nowhere else to turn. The poem feels like a promise to the rejected that here they will not be seen as burdens but as human beings deserving of dignity and hope. When I read it, I feel both comforted and challenged, because it reminds me that a true home is not defined by walls or gates, but by compassion and the willingness to welcome strangers. This image moves me because it shows that true greatness isn’t about towering over others, but about opening your arms to those who have been cast aside and giving them a chance to start again. And yet, it is heartbreaking to think that today, the “Mother of Exiles” no longer feels as welcoming, as America struggles with closing doors instead of opening them, making the poem feel less like a proud truth and more like a forgotten promise.

Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

In Sonnet 29, I felt a whirlwind of emotions because the beginning captures that raw heaviness of despair, the kind where you can’t help but compare yourself to others and feel like you are always falling short. I connected so much with the persona’s jealousy and insecurity, because I too know what it feels like to look at the world and think everyone else has more success, more love, and more happiness while I am left with nothing. But what makes the sonnet so moving is how suddenly, with just the thought of one beloved person, all that darkness melts away like it was never there at all. That shift gave me a sense of “kilig” because it shows how love can be powerful enough to change despair into joy in an instant. By the end, I felt overwhelmed with the idea that love can make you feel richer than kings, reminding me that even in the lowest times, having someone who makes your soul feel alive is the greatest treasure of all.

II.

Sonnet 54 by Edmund Spenser

ABAB BCBC DEDE FF

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

ABBA ABBA CDCDCD

Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

III.

"Within My Walls"

Upon these walls my weary hands have built,

No stranger’s touch may breach their guarded stone.

Once trust was given, now it feels like guilt,

For I was left more wounded and alone.

A fleeting warmth once pierced my fortress high,

I let another share my guarded air;

But empty vows dissolved and turned to lie,

And left my heart in silence and despair.

Now solitude becomes my chosen friend,

A gentle peace that others cannot give;

Though I may smile and mingle now and then,

It’s in my quiet self I truly live.

So let the world press on with endless call,

I find my truth within my private wall.

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

A. Provide an interpretation of each sonnet.

• Sonnet 54 by Edmund Spencer: In this beautiful poem, I believe it shows the courting phase between a man and a woman. The man compares his efforts to a play in a theater, where he performs different emotions just to win the woman’s love. He shows both joy and sorrow, but instead of caring, the woman only mocks and laughs at him. This reveals the heartlessness of the woman, who is even compared to a stone, remaining cold no matter what he does. The sonnet clearly depicts unrequited love, where one gives everything while the other stays unmoved.

• The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus: While reading this poem, my view of the Statue of Liberty, or the “Mother of Exiles,” changed deeply. I used to see it only as a statue of America’s bravery and freedom, but now I realize it is also a symbol of care and refuge for people who have nowhere else to go. Unlike the Colossus of Rhodes, which stood for power and conquest, the Statue of Liberty stands for compassion, hope, and a new beginning. When the poem says, “Give me your tired, your poor… Send the homeless, tempest-tost to me,” it feels like the statue is speaking as a true mother, ready to welcome and protect those discarded by their own countries. With her torch as a guiding light, she leads them toward freedom and a new life, offering warmth and dignity like a parent embracing her children.

• Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare: This poem greatly captures the depth of despair, bitterness, and envy that a person feels in life. There are truly moments when we find ourselves lonely, without anyone by our side, and worthless, as if heaven itself has turned away from us and refuses to hear our cries. In that state of suffering, we begin to curse our own life, comparing ourselves to others, wishing we had their blessings, their talents, their friendships, and even the simple happiness they seem to carry so easily, until we hate ourselves even more. No matter how much we try to enjoy the things we already have, they feel empty and unsatisfying, and we end up sinking deeper into our own dark thoughts. Yet what makes this poem so beautiful is how it shows that even in the midst of such despair, there is always one person, the beloved, whose presence and love can lift us up from the ground, like a lark rising from the earth to sing hymns at heaven’s gate, that love has the power to save us, to remind us that we are never truly abandoned, and that with love, we hold a wealth greater than kings, no matter how broken we once felt.

B. Identify the rhyme scheme present in each of the sonnets.

• Sonnet 54 by Edmund Spencer: ABAB BCBC DEDE FF (SPENSERIAN)

• The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus: ABBA ABBA CDCDCD (PETRARCHAN)

• Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG (SHAKESPEAREAN)

C. Create a sonnet based on your assignment.

Broken Vow

We knelt as one before the sacred cross

Our voices swore to love till life was done,

Yet vows now lie in ash, a bitter loss,

The warmth has died, no longer shines the sun.

The bells still rang beneath that fading sun,

Our whispered prayers dissolved like smoke in air,

The bond we held has slowly come undone,

And I remain to bear this heavy care.

You sought for warmth where I could not provide,

Another’s arms became your fleeting flame,

While I knelt low, with God still at my side,

And wore the cross that marked my silent shame.

What worth are vows once spoken at the start?

You chose your joy, but broke my faithful heart.

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

A. Provide an interpretation of each sonnet. 5 sentences each, per sonnet. (5 points each)

Sonnet 54 by Edmund Spencer

In this sonnet, the persona compares the world to a theatre, while he views his own life as the play held on its stage. He plays the role of the actor, feeling the joy of comedy and the sorrow of tragedy, but the audience, his beloved, remains cold-bloodedly watching. I believe that this sonnet captures the frustration of loving someone who remains emotionally unresponsive to anything. To me, this shows the essence of the emotional self-isolation that many people experience these days. You can give everything you have, stage your “theater of the heart,” but if the other person chooses not to engage, your emotions will inevitably feel irrelevant.

"The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus

This poem dates back to 1883, which was around the time a lot of Europeans were moving to America. The Statue takes the name of “Mother of Exiles” as she embraces outcasts. A vision of America that is profoundly humane, but of refuge. I consider this to answer the question: What should a nation stand for? Rather than pride and conquest, Lazarus imagines a nation that is a beacon of refuge and a holder of the “lamp beside the golden door” for those who are desperate. Reminds me that the literature is not just an art, it may also be a political voice.

Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

The persona feels like a complete failure, suffering from envy and a lack of connection with society, “in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes”, as well as feeling deaf to any intervention from above (“deaf heaven”). He wishes to look, act, and seize the opportunities that others do. This feeling is typically human, almost everyone has, at one point, glanced at other people and thought, “I wish I were more like them.” This is, in a way, the persona confessing to the occasional feeling of unease and self-doubt, which is always relevant. This brings to my mind times when I’ve measured myself against others, feeling “less” or unfortunate, only to realize later how blessed I am.

B. Identify the rhyme scheme present in each of the sonnets. (5 points each)

Sonnet 54 by Edmund Spencer

ABAB BCBC CDCD EE

Emma Lazarus’ “The New Colossus”

ABBAABBA CDCDCD

Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

C. Assignment: Petrarchan Sonnet

All About You

O Love, You know my heart, both loud and still,

A stubborn child who laughs and sometimes weeps,

I chase the world, yet find You in my sleep,

Your whisper bends my worry to Your will.

Though books pile high and tasks my desk do fill,

Behind my peers I stumble, slow in leaps,

Yet through the cracks Your faithful mercy seeps,

And lifts my soul beyond the climbing hill.

A jolly jack-of-trades, I dance, I sing,

Dreaming of strings to strum, or keys to play,

Each note a prayer, a feathered offering.

For college doors now open me a way,

My thanks is endless, like the sky in spring,

To You, my Love, my light, my guide, my stay.

ENGL 513

BSE ENGLISH-CHINESE 3A

ACTIVITY #1

A. INTERPRETATION

Amoretti LIV: Of this worlds Theatre in which we stay by Edmund Spenser

For me, this poem feels like watching someone pour their heart out and it just bounces off the person they love. I feel like the speaker is acting on a stage, showing every possible emotion, but his love just sits there, completely unmoved. For me, it’s interesting how he turns his feelings into both comedy and tragedy, almost like he is performing for himself and not for her. It makes me think about how some people are just impossible to reach, no matter how much you try to show them your true self. In the end, it feels a bit hopeless, but also kind of honest about the pain of loving someone who can’t feel what you feel.

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

For me, this poem hits me in a way that makes me think about hope and safety in a very real sense. I feel like Lazarus is giving life to the Statue of Liberty, turning it from just a monument into a living figure that watches over people who have nothing. When she calls the statue the "Mother of Exiles," it makes me imagine someone who can feel the pain of the tired and poor, who actually cares and is ready to protect them. The words "Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" make me picture people arriving on the shore after long, difficult journeys, and it makes me feel both sad and inspired at the same time. I also feel emotional about the lamp being lifted beside the golden door, because it's not just a light, but a promise that there's a place where people can belong and start over. Reading it makes me think about how powerful symbols can be when they carry real meaning, and how one poem can give a voice to millions of people who needed hope.

Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes by William Shakespeare

This poem feels so honest about self-doubt and feeling out of place. Right now, I'm still not sure about the path I'm taking or if this is really the life I want, and I often envy those who seem so sure about their future, who already have clear plans and goals. When I read how Shakespeare compares himself to others who are "more rich in hope" or have friends and talents he desires, I can really relate. It makes me think about how easy it is to feel stuck, wishing I had what other people have, and how frustrating that can be. But for me, the turning point is when he remembers the person he loves, their love gives him a kind of strength and joy that nothing else can. I feel like that shows me that even when life feels uncertain, something or someone meaningful can remind you of your value. Out of all the sonnets I've read, I relate most to this one because it really captures that mix of envy, doubt, and hope that I feel every day. It makes me realize that even in moments of despair, there can be small things that lift you up and make life feel worthwhile.

B. RHYME SCHEMES

1. stay — A

2. sits — B

3. play — A

4. wits — B

5. fits — B

6. comedy — C

7. flits — B

8. tragedy — C

9. eye — C

10. smart — D

11. cry — C

12. heart — D

13. mone — E

14. stone — E

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB BCBC CDCD EE (Spenserian)

1. fame — A

2. land — B

3. stand — B

4. flame — A

5. name — A

6. hand — B

7. command — B

8. frame — A

9. she — C

10. poor — D

11. free — C

12. shore — D

13. me — C

14. door — D

Rhyme Scheme: ABBA ABBA CDCD CD (Petrarchan)

1. eyes — A

2. state — B

3. cries — A

4. fate — B

5. hope — C

6. possessed — D

7. scope — C

8. least — D

9. despising — E

10. state — F

11. arising — E

12. gate — F

13. brings — G

14. kings — G

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG (Shakespearean)

C. CREATE A SONNET

THE ROAD (Spenserian Sonnet)

‎I walk the roads and still I find no place, (A)

‎The days go by, yet all feels dark and cold, (B)

‎The world looks down and turns away its face, (A)

‎My hands are tired from dreams I could not hold; (B)

‎The search grows long, the nights are harsh and old, (B)

‎While others seem to know the paths they tread, (C)

‎I stumble on, my story left untold, (B)

‎With heavy heart and hope that feels near dead. (C)

‎

‎A soul without a path, by sorrow led, (C)

‎I watch the years escape beyond my sight; (D)

‎Regret now whispers all the things I dread, (C)

‎And every step feels heavier at night. (D)

‎Yet still I breathe, though silence cuts me deep, (E)

‎And pray for rest the world will never keep. (E)

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

A. Provide an interpretation...

1. Sonnet 54 - Edmund Spenser

In Sonnet 54, the persona compares his love situation to a theater play, which sets the scene and mood of the poem. This situation reflects the courting stage, where the man tries his best to impress the woman he admires. Throughout the lines, the persona’s expressions show his effort, anticipation, and display of affection, while the woman shows no interest in him, mocking his laughter and laughing when he cries, which clearly shows unrequited love. At the same time, the sonnet shows that love can bring both joy and sorrow, as admiration and desire are often accompanied by uncertainty or longing. In the final couplet, he concludes that if his emotions/expressions cannot move her, she is “no woman, but a senseless stone.”

2. The New Colossus - Emma Lazarus

In The New Colossus, Emma Lazarus presents the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of hope, freedom, and refuge for immigrants coming to America. Based on what I've read, the poem contrasts the Colossus of Rhodes, described as a “brazen giant of Greek,” a symbol of power, with the Statue of Liberty, called the “Mother of Exiles,” who “lifts her lamp beside the golden door” to welcome the tired, poor, and oppressed, as seen in the lines: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” I also think the poem emphasizes America as a place of compassion and opportunity, which offers safety and new life to those who have been marginalized or persecuted. Reading this poem made me realize that the Statue of Liberty is more than just a statue, it symbolizes something huge and valuable. It comforts me knowing that America has this symbol of hope, which reminds people that they are welcomed.

3. Sonnet 29 - William Shakespeare

In Sonnet 29, the persona explores the journey from despair to joy through the power of love and human connection. At the beginning, the persona expresses deep feelings of loneliness and self-pity, describing his “outcast state” and envying others who seem more fortunate, talented, or socially admired. It also shows that the persona feels disconnected and isolated himself from the world and burdened by his misfortunes. However, the mood shifts when he thinks of his lover/loved ones. The mere memory of this person brings a sense of happiness and contentment that is so powerful that it outweighs any previous longing or envy, and the persona declares he would rather be with this person than be a king.

B. Identify the rhyme scheme...

1. Sonnet 54 - Edmund Spenser

ABAB-BCBC-DEDE-FF

2. The New Colossus - Emma Lazarus

ABBA-ABBA-CDCD-CD

3. Sonnet 29 - William Shakespeare

ABAB-CDCD-EFEF-GG

C. Create a sonnet...

A Thousand Dreams

I dream of love that lingers through the years,

That waits for me beside an open door,

Through midnight laughs and quiet stream of tears,

Through sunsets where the sea hums at the shore.

We’ll sip our coffee, talk the life we’re about to explore,

And feel the warmth of hands that cradle me,

We’ll trade the world for moments we adore,

And listen to each heartbeat close in harmony.

We'll dance in kitchens, steps both light and free,

Sing crooked tunes that set the world alight,

We'll lie on rooftops, counting each bright star with glee,

And trace the silver edges of the night.

For love like this, where ordinary gleams,

Can turn our days into a thousand dreams.

ENGL 513

BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY 1

A. INTERPRETATION

Amoretti LIV

In this sonnet, theater is shown as an extended metaphor of love. Yes, in a theater people do wear masks to disguise as someone. Similarly, the sonnet talks about how the persona pretends to be joyful to mask his troubles. But, no matter how the persona plays, the woman he loves still remain unmoved. She doesn't delight in his joy nor sorrow, and even mocks him. If she cannot be moved by any emotions shown, then she is not truly a human but "a senseless stone". The sonnet shows the pain of unrequited love and emotional indifference.

THE NEW COLOSSUS

This sonnet emphasizes the "mother of exiles" which is the embodiment of The Statue of Liberty. It shows how the America became the safe haven for the "exiles"—the poor, the oppressed, and homeless. I believe that the place is specifically New York. It shows the symbolism of their nation's role as refuge for the immigrants. Liberty is not a force or conquest, but hope for those who is seeking for a new beginning.

SONNET 29

I once experienced the feeling of being an "outcast", something that is relatable to the sonnet. The sonnet heavily focus on despair and envy, feeling of being left out, because you see yourself with no wealth, power, friends, and more. Just like the persona, I experienced a lot of insecurity in my life, in any aspect. I questioned my talents and the things that I have right now to the point that I saw myselft as an outcast. But similar to the poem, my view also changed mlwhen there is something/someone who boosted me up "like to the lark at break of day rising." The realization really hits when you understand that true wealth is not found in material things, but in love that brings genuine contentment in everything you do.

B. RHYME SCHEME

AMORETTI LIV

ABAB BCBC CDCD EE (SPENSERIAN)

THE NEW COLOSSUS

ABBA ABBA CDCDCD (PETRARCHAN)

SONNET 29

ABAB CDCD EFEF GG (SHAKESPEAREAN)

C. MY SONNET

THE ART OF CONFESSION

I see mixed colors, brush soaked in water (A)

As it rise, on canvas, paint colors drip (B)

Layers of paper, soaked and wet, they rip (B)

It made a hole, but that doesn't matter (A)

Inside a hole, magic appeared, I looked farther (A)

I saw a colorful fairy, An enchantment I want to keep (B)

The glitters, some colors are light, some are deep(B)

But together, The dynamics are better (A)

Seeing her, I began to see a melody (C)

A tune that I could keep in my hand (D)

It was loud, but it was quiet at the same time (E)

Like layers blended in full harmony (C)

I left my seat, I take a firm stand (D)

Voice went out, saying "I like you" like it's a crime (E)

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

A. Interpretation…

• Sonnet 5 by Edmund Spencer

“Unrequited love” that is the first thing that comes into my mind when I finished reading the sonnet which pinpoints the idea of how painful it is to love someone who does not reciprocate the one’s feelings, a one sided love. As the persona sees the world as a theatre where his beloved is a spectator (passive) watching the perfomances’ of the man that symbolizes who he is as a human being, how he feel—the struggles that keeps behind and these performances where he refer as a ‘pageants’. Since his perception of world is a theatre, the emotions that he felt showcases various genres that depicts the attention that he wanted for her beloved. However, nothing changes because the girl that he likes no matter how gladly nor sorrowful his performance, this doesn’t change the fact that  she will not show an action that makes the speaker feel the joy derived from the stanzas;

“But when I laugh she mocks, and when I cry

She laughs and hardens evermore her heart”. Basically, a sign that says nothing to be expect here. At the end, the bitterness, disappointments, and anger prevailed to him that leaves into accusation of “she is no woman, but a senseless stone”.

• The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

Greatness, The light that keeps on shining, and the warm welcoming—those are just some of my thoughts behind this piece. The Statue of Liberty signifies something, I can feel the gentleness that emphasizes that your life is never ending even with the circumstances that will make you question your worth as a human being, it makes me think this ‘mighty woman with a torch’ is not just a statue that resembles  New York, she is like a human being that reminds us that the new beginnings will never fade because the torch that she is holding is the light that will always be there to shine if you fall from darkness “I lift my lamp beside the golden door!". It is the opportunity, the door that never closes. For me, she it not just a statue who have got a keen eye, she is a speaker that broadcasts to all people that everything can lead us into to downfall but hope will be remain—an ingredient that helps the overall description to be balance.

• Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

“Relate much” I can say that this piece brings much emotion in my soul because I used to be hopeless in any aspects in my life, it seems like I feel so small compared to other people especially to successful ones. Just like this piece, I often ‘weep my outcast state’, feeling wrath because my life is similar as being cursed, being envy, wishing, featuring, and desiring to be him and her yet at some point, I feel like it is a shame to live in this world. However, I can say that the speaker of this piece still can find light amidst chaos just by remembering the source of happiness that helps him to stay in the line. The person that we have in our life keeps the string of living because indeed that happiness that is found with someone can bring plentiful, richness that will not make you think trading it with something because it will lift us up from the dark and makes our spirit dance with joy just like how he sings hymns at heaven's gate.

B. Identify…

• Sonnet 54 by Edmund Spencer

ABAB BCBC DEDE FF ( Spenserian sonnet )

• The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

ABBA ABBA CDCD CD ( Petrarchan sonnet )

• Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

ABAB CDCD EFEF GG (Shakespearean sonnet )

C. Create…

• My Spenserian sonnet

  
  

  “Beauty in Simplicity”

The quiet dawn disclose a gentle truth. ( A )

That happiness dwell in simple ways. ( B )

Not in the trail of youth or fleeting youth, (A)

But in the calm of innocent days ( B )   

A cup of tea, a book beside the rays, ( B )

The softest touch of wind on gentle skin. ( C )

These small delights that never betrays, ( B )

Outweigh the noise and murmur found within. ( C )

No need for riches, power, or desire that will activate the grin, ( C )

When peace is found in moments pure and clear,  ( D )

The soul’s pleasure, like a steady chin ( C )

Plays melodies that only hearts and soul can hear.  ( D )

In simplicity, my spirits can soar wild and free, ( E )

A quiet joy that’s deep as any sea. ( E )

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

Of this world’s theatre in which we stay,

My love like the spectator idly sits

Beholding me that all the pageants play,

Disguising diversely my troubled wits.

Sometimes I joy when glad occasion fits,

And mask in mirth like to a comedy:

Soon after when my joy to sorrow flits,

I wail and make my woes a tragedy.

Yet she, beholding me with constant eye,

Delights not in my mirth nor rues my smart:

But when I laugh she mocks, and when I cry

She laughs and hardens evermore her heart.

What then can move her? if nor mirth nor moan,

She is no woman, but a senseless stone.

A. This sonnet shows an unrequited love. It's the writer's way of screaming out of frustration. It also showed how the girl did not reciprocate the persona's feelings. She was compared to a stone, for no matter how hard the writer flirt with her, she was not budging, just like a stone. It showed the bitter side of love, where no matter how much love you give to the other person, if he/she does not love you, nothing will happen.

B. ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

A. This sonnet talks about the struggle of humanity, and also hope. It also included a lot of histories like the Statue of Liberty on how it was seen not as a domination, but a protection. It was the hope for humanity to have equality. It was the hope to see what greatness really is. At the end, it reminded us to help whoever needs help and protect those who need help.

B. ABBA ABBA CDCD CD

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,

I all alone beweep my outcast state,

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

And look upon myself and curse my fate,

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,

Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,

With what I most enjoy contented least;

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

(Like to the lark at break of day arising

From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;

For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings

That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

A. This sonnet, once again, is a cry for help, but this time, not for love, but for fate. The persona is envy for others' blessing, and asks why he/she doesn't have what others have. He felt rejected because of his state. But, he remembered all the love he/she had. It mentioned the power of both love and redemption.

B. ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

III. SHAKESPERIAN

YOU ARE MY GLORY

There’s no hard question I cannot make clear,

Yet when you come, my mind turns into mist.

You are the storm that shakes what I hold near,

Like failed exams whose answers I have missed.

In all you do, my fire is burning strong,

But still it pales beside my flame for you.

Your touch lifts me like wings that pull along,

My heart takes flight when skies are only two.

Among all stars, you are the brightest spark,

Your gentle care has wrapped me in its glow.

You chase away the shadows in the dark,

And plant warm fields where only thorns would grow.

You are my glory, steady as the sea,

The light that shines through all eternity.

ENGL 513

BSE ENGLISH CHINESE 3-A

ACTIVITY #1

A. INTERPRETATION

• Amoretti LIV: Of this worlds Theatre in which we stay by Edmund Spenser

The sonnet reminds me of the soliloquy from Macbeth entitled Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow which also compares the world to a stage where people play their roles until the actor can be heard no more. But in this sonnet, he performs different emotions while the woman watches him, remaining unshaken and unmoved. I interpret this as unrequited love. She does not respond to his feelings despite his efforts, showing that his passion is one-sided. This reveals his pain and her indifference, making his love feel wasted. Thus, I think she is a heartless woman.

• The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

In the sonnet, the Statue of Liberty is depicted as something more than just a symbol. She was given a heart and a voice. She was painted as a mother who opens her arms to embrace her children who are hurting, the lost, those who come seeking shelter, and anyone in need of hope. She welcomes them with compassion, using her lamp not as a weapon but as a light to guide her children toward a new beginning. That lamp shines as a promise of safety and belonging for those who have nowhere else to go. But I cannot ignore the irony that this mother of exiles stands tall in a land where her own children have been denied the very freedom she promises, where so many have struggled for their rights and equality. The land of freedom is not as free as it claims to be.

• Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes by William Shakespeare

The sonnet welcomed me with loneliness and the desperation of someone who feels that everything in life has turned against them. It speaks of a man who has fallen out of grace and is not used to it. He envies others and wishes for things he does not have, leaving him unsatisfied and miserable. I see myself in him, because I do not always know what I want. Like him, I am insecure, I hate the feeling of being left out and forgotten, and I am not content with what I have. But just like him, when I am reminded of my beloved, my loneliness turns to love and my despair turns to joy, because the love I feel is enough to cover all my ugly feelings.

B. RHYME SCHEMES

Amoretti LIV: Sonnet 54 by Edmund Spenser

Rhyme Scheme: Spenserian — ABAB BCBC CDCD EE

stay — A

sits — B

play — A

wits — B

fits — B

comedy — C

flits — B

tragedy — C

eye — C

smart — D

cry — C

heart — D

mone — E

stone — E

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

Rhyme Scheme: Petrarchan — ABBA ABBA CDCD CD

fame — A

land — B

stand — B

flame — A

name — A

hand — B

command — B

frame — A

she — C

poor — D

free — C

shore — D

me — C

door — D

Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

Rhyme Scheme: Shakespearean — ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

eyes — A

state — B

cries — A

fate — B

hope — C

possessed — D

scope — C

least — D

despising — E

state — F

arising — E

gate — F

brings — G

kings — G

C. CREATE A SONNET

(This sonnet is just another take on a poem I wrote before back in high school, inspired by the “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” soliloquy from Macbeth by William Shakespeare. It’s something that I resonate with because they remind me that life is temporary, and each role is short-lived.)

The Way to Dusty Death

I once stood grey upon the humble stage; (A)

The crowd moves on with time, they never stay. (B)

Out, out, brief candle, gone to its last page; (A)

Like the poor player, I fret and fade away. (B)

The lights grow dim, then vanish with the day; (B)

Curtains fall, until I am heard no more. (C)

My voice now gone, my part is done today; (B)

The play goes on, as countless times before. (C)

The stage forgets my name and shuts the door; (C)

Time clears the stage, to birth a new flower. (D)

Then new players will rise and speak once more. (C)

I, the poor player, who struts and f

rets his hour, (D)

Will now close my eyes, then fall to dust, (B)

For I wish to rest in silence — I must. (B)

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY #1

A. INTERPRETATION

Sonnet 54

The sonnet 54, written by Edmund Spenser, highlights for me a different side of loving someone. Spenser presents to the readers the reality that loving someone does not always lead to reciprocation, but can instead bring pain and fewer of the “butterflies” that love is often associated with.

The poem shows how the persona expresses his desire and love for the woman through the imagery of a theatrical performance: "Of this world's theatre in which we stay...". The author describes himself as the performer on a stage, while the person he desires is the spectator who merely sits and idly watches his performance: "My love like the spectator idly sits...". In the poem, the author mentions how he, as the performer, displays different emotions and acts in different genres such as comedy and tragedy. Yet, despite these performances, his lover beholds him only with a constant, unchanging eye.

For me, this kind of love can be associated with a modern term we use nowadays: “one-sided love.” These are the first words that come into my mind after reading the poem. For me, this phrase perfectly describes the feeling of the author, who loves the woman yet receives nothing in return.

"The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus

After reading the poem, I felt comforted and safe by the words used by the author. The author describes how the Statue of Liberty, "A mighty woman with a torch...," becomes like a mother and a refuge to all. Before, I used to think that the statue of a woman holding a torch merely symbolized freedom and liberty from oppression, but now it has become clear to me that it is not just a symbol, but a figure that truly offers open arms, especially for those in exile.

The lines "cries she with silent lips, ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free’" and "Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me" highlight how this statue reminds us that the United States should be a sanctuary for the homeless and immigrants in the country.

The line "Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, with conquering limbs astride from land to land" shows how the Statue of Liberty is different from the famous statue in Greece, which merely represented military conquest.

Finally, the line "I lift my lamp beside the golden door" emphasizes how this statue’s main purpose is to show hope to people who feel lost in their homeland and to offer them new comfort and new beginnings in a new country.

Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

In this poem, I love how Shakespeare becomes so honest about his inner struggle with feelings of envy and jealousy. Lines such as “And look upon myself and curse my fate, wishing me like to one more rich in hope, featured like him, like him with friends possessed...” highlight his great dilemma in facing the struggle of jealousy—wishing to be like another man and to have what he has.

As someone who used to be in the battlefield of unending comparison, especially during my first year in college, I deeply resonate with this poem. For me, it gives a glimpse of how the battle with envy within us can make us feel small compared to other people or to someone else’s story.

In the later part of the poem, the author shifts away from this dark feeling of envy and draws the readers into the magical aftermath of love through the lines: “Haply I think on thee, and then my state, (like to the lark at break of day arising from sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate.”

I really love this poem because it reminds me that, even though we sometimes find ourselves feeling as if we have nothing—or having less when we compare what we have to what others possess—love is something we can keep, own, and treasure uniquely. No comparison or envy can erase it.

This poem made me realize that sometimes, in order to recognize what we already have, we may look at someone else’s shoes for perspective. It does not matter whether we find ourselves with less or with more; what matters is realizing that even though we stand on different levels, we still have something precious to keep—and that is the love within us.

B. Rhyme Schemes

Sonnet 54

ABAB BCBC DEDE FF

The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus

ABBA ABBA CDC DCD

Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare

ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

C. Create a sonnet based on your assignment. (MINA- SH)

"Agape"

When I think of how You love (A)

I think of the nails that pierced Your palm (B)

How You met me with open arms, and left Your throne above (A)

How in my life You turned the raging storm into calm (B)

When doubt creeps in my mind (C)

I hear Your peaceful voice whispering “a love of eternal” (D)

You hide me in the wings of Your grace and mercy that intertwined (C)

And lift me to the heavens of bright and supernal (D)

My child, I'll be the bridge and pursue you (E)

I'll endure all the pain of generations and numb myself to the scar (F)

Even in the midst of a parting sea, my love will find you through (E)

Let me be your guiding light, like the northern star (F)

Without Your love, my soul would fade away, (G)

But in Your grace, I find my heart to stay. (G)

ENGL 513

N BSE ENGCHI 3A

ACTIVITY 1

A. Interpretation

Amoretti LIV: Of this World's Theatre in Which We Stay

Edmund Spenser's "Amoretti LIV" masterfully employs the metaphor of the world as a theater to explore the agonizing depths of unrequited love. In this sonnet, Spenser casts humanity as actors on life's stage, each playing a predetermined role. The speaker's role, however, is steeped in sorrow, marked by the pain of unreciprocated affection. The stark reality of his situation is laid bare through vivid imagery: "But when I laugh she mocks, and when I cry / She laughs and hardens evermore her heart." These lines encapsulate the torment of performing for an indifferent audience, highlighting the beloved's imperviousness to the speaker's suffering. This dynamic underscores the profound isolation and vulnerability experienced when love is not mirrored, suggesting a fundamental disconnect in perception and emotional availability between the speaker and his beloved.

The New Colossus

Emma Lazarus's "The New Colossus" transcends the physical grandeur of the Statue of Liberty, transforming it into an emblem of maternal compassion and boundless opportunity. The poem resonates deeply as it reimagines the statue as a nurturing mother figure, extending her embrace to the "homeless, tempest-tost" masses. More than a mere monument, the Statue of Liberty symbolizes hope, freedom, and the promise of a fresh start for immigrants seeking refuge and a better life. By holding aloft her lamp beside the "golden door," she illuminates the path to a welcoming haven, embodying the ideals of inclusivity and humanitarianism that define the American ethos. The statue's significance lies not only in its imposing presence but in its profound representation of humanity's capacity for empathy and the enduring pursuit of liberty.

Sonnet 29

William Shakespeare's Sonnet 29 captures the universal experience of despair and the redemptive power of love. The sonnet delves into moments of profound self-doubt and disillusionment, where life seems devoid of purpose and fortune appears to have turned its back. In these dark times, the speaker finds solace and renewed hope in the thought of a beloved person, whose memory serves as a beacon of light amidst the gloom. The poem underscores the transformative effect of love, capable of alleviating inner turmoil and instilling a sense of worth and contentment. The closing lines reveal the speaker's conviction that the immeasurable value of being loved surpasses any material wealth or royal status, affirming love as the ultimate source of happiness and fulfillment.

B. Identify the rhyme scheme...

1. Sonnet 54 -Edmund Spenser

ABAB-BCBC-DEDE-FF

2. The New Colossus - Emma Lazarus

ABBA-ABBA-CDCD-CD

3. Sonnet 29 - William Shakespeare

ABAB-CDCD-EFEF-GG

C. Make a sonnet…

Her Veiled Destiny

In shadows deep, where doubts and fears reside,

A woman stands, her future veiled in mist,

Her heart a storm, where hopes and dreams subside,

Her path obscured, a destiny unkissed.

She seeks a light to pierce the heavy gloom,

A guiding star to navigate the night,

But finds no solace, only silent doom,

As worries cloud her vision, dimming sight.

Yet in her soul, a flicker still remains,

A spark of strength, refusing to be quelled,

A whisper soft that echoes through her veins,

A promise whispered, stories yet un-telled.

Though shadows loom, and darkness may endure,

Her spirit strong, her future to secure.

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

1. Sonnet 54 — Edmund Spenser

I feel like the poem is saying true beauty shows itself by what it leaves behind, not just by flashy looks. The persona here uses the idea of roses and their scent to say that what lasts such as good qualities and truth matters more than what only looks pretty for a moment. It feels like the author here is saying that real love or real worth can’t be faked. It shows itself in actions and results. The language is a bit formal, but the message is simple: inner value outlives surface charm. Overall, it’s a calm but firm reminder to look for what truly endures.

2. “The New Colossus” — Emma Lazarus

I see this poem as a proud but gentle answer to the idea of big empire statues. This one welcomes the poor and tired instead of showing power. It compares the Statue of Liberty to the old Colossus of Rhodes and flips the meaning, now the statue is a “Mother of Exiles” who offers refuge and hope. The poem’s voice is warm and political at once, pushing the idea that America should be a safe place for people who need a fresh start. Even if I don’t know all the history, the images like the “huddled masses,” “lamp,” “golden door”, makes the welcoming message super clear. It’s basically a short, emotional call to kindness and hospitality.

3. Sonnet 29 — William Shakespeare

I get that it opens with the speaker feeling low, unlucky, and jealous of other people’s success. The poem is honest about feeling lonely and wishing for better luck, but then it flips when the speaker thinks about someone they love, that thought suddenly makes them feel richer than kings. It’s cool how Shakespeare moves from self-pity to gratitude in the same short poem; it shows how love or a meaningful relationship can change how you see yourself. In simple terms: the sonnet says bad days happen, but remembering what really matters can fix them.

B. Identify the rhyme scheme..

1. "Sonnet 54" by Edmund Spenser -ABAB BCBC DEDE

FF

stay (A)

sits (B)

play (A)

wits (B)

fits (B)

comedy (C)

flits (B)

tragedy (C)

eye (D)

smart (E)

cry (D)

heart (E)

moan (F)

stone (F)

2. "The New Colossus" by Emma

Lazarus - ABBAABBA CDCDCD

fame (A)

land (B)

stand (B)

flame (A)

name (A)

hand (B)

command (B)

frame (A)

she (C)

poor (D)

free (C)

shore (D)

me (C)

door (D)

3. "Sonnet 29" by William Shakespeare ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

eyes (A)

state (B)

cries (A)

fate (B)

hope (C)

possessed (D)

scope (C)

least (D)

despising (E)

state (F)

arising (E)

gate (F)

brings (G)

kings (G)

3. Spencerian Sonnet "Whispers of a Youthful Heart" by Sosito Clarence Tompang

Upon the schoolyard breeze our laughter flies (A)

Beneath the sun, our secret dreams take flight (B)

Your eyes reflect the calm of early skies (A)

Yet hide the thrill of stars that wake at night. (B)

Through crowded halls our glances softly meet, (B)

And time slows down to hear our fleeting cheer; (C)

Each whispered word becomes a rhythm sweet, (B)

A song that only we, at dawn, can hear. (C)

Though tender hearts may break with summer's rain, (C)

The petals bloom where morning tears have stayed; (D)

For love that learns to dance through joy and pain (C)

Is stronger still when gentle trust is made. (D)

So here we stand, where all our youth is true, (E)

And dream a world that's wide enough for two. (E)