To think that writing a sonnet is unrealistic for Year 8 homework?

[Orlando]

I have a degree in English (admittedly from 150 years ago) and my work is centred around writing, but I'd find this pretty much impossible. It has to be romantic, apparently. And done by tomorrow. AIBU to think it's just offputtingly difficult for 12-13 year olds?

some can, some can't. DD would sail thru & DSs would do half arsed or worse.

We do this with y7! They love it!
Get her to do a subverted one - my lower ability y7 class had great fun with that lady Valentine's day!

What's a subverted one, Eggs?

I think as long as they've been given guidance on what a sonnet is and the principles of how they work it's fine. I'm sure the teacher isn't going to be expecting it to be as good as one of Shakespeare's!

Been asked to write a sonnet, teacher dear
My mom found out, and hit the bloody roof
She AIBU'd, hoping for some answers here
And Buggar, she composed this, of the hoof
I tried my best, Miss, working very hard
To do this task-I scribbled through the night
An epic fail to mimic The Great Bard
Concluded, Miss, you and your "task" are shite!
So give me please, a task that I can do
Because, miss, we all think that YABU!

There y'go. Homework done!!

OK just showing off now but I can't leave it half done

So am I being U? Quite frankly yes.
Your DD is entitled to address
her needs. And if her pear's not cutted up
it's fine to fling it on the floor, with cup.
Naice ham will follow shortly too, no doubt
while you suppress a strong desire to shout.
And wonder how this ever came to pass -
the highlight of your day's a mumsnet scarf!
But wait! She's sleepy now and heavy-eyed,
weighs heavy on your shoulder as she sighs.
She's still, there's time for just one stolen kiss,
to sniff her head, hold tightly, reminisce.
And one day soon, when year 8 homework's done.
You'll wonder where she went, that tiny one.

It's fine, and good practice for later on. When I was doing GCSE's I had to write a 60 line poem in iambic pentameter following on from the end of Measure for Measure, although we did have longer than a night for that. We also had to keep a writing diary to submit with it - I wrote the poem then made up the diary once I was finished! I've still got it somewhere, I was quite proud of that.

Been asked to write a sonnet, teacher dear
My mom found out, and hit the bloody roof
She AIBU'd, hoping for some answers here
And Buggar, she composed this, of the hoof
I tried my best, Miss, working very hard
To do this task-I scribbled through the night
An epic fail to mimic The Great Bard
Concluded, Miss, you and your "task" are shite!
So give me please, a task that I can do
Because, miss, we all think that YABU!

There y'go. Homework done!!

Aw - Wilson. That's lovely!

Buggar and Wilson - IN AWE.

Antlers, thanks for explaining it like that (ie more fully than it's been explained in dad's class, though of course a lot has undoubtedly been lost in the re-telling!) I definitely see the exercise differently now - big thanks to all.

We had to do one in my first year at grammar school.

I got 9/10

I'm pretty sure I had similar homework at that age. So I'll say YABU. I was rubbish at it I'll grant you but then I was rubbish at everything to do with the subject.

So here we go please do not fret!
But do your homework he must get
Leia's a fox, i must not vex
She stole my heart in her net
When the moon comes out i speak to her
And hope it carries my love to her
Oh how cruel is cupid's arrow, when it burrows deep
But i know i must not bleed, she's just driven by in billy's car
Which is good, as i've just met her!
She's blonde and blueyed and has honeyed hair
An English rose if you ever saw one
She's vivacious, daring and beautiful altogether,
She's sitting beside me and her name is 'Lindsay Lohan'.

(okay not shakespear but.. )

Ugh. Shakespeare. DS2 (12) is currently 'translating' a scene from the Scottish play.

I just noticed i'm one verse short, so not a sonnet afterall! But i'm sure you get the idea by now, he'll enjoy it.

DD's homework 2 weeks into year 6 was to compose a funny limerick, starting with a given first line, in Welsh . . .

Sparklingbrook, I remember being given homework in my English A level class by a young trainee teacher: 'Translate this passage of Milton'. IIRC we managed between us 5 languages including russian, rhyming couplets and Sarf Lunnon . In retrospect I feel very sorry for her, but she was more precise in her instructions thereafter >

I feel like sticking it all into Gizoogle and getting Macbeth gangsterized Takver. I am sure his teacher would love that.

I did some for the Shakespeare thread-

LADY MACBETH
O, never
61 Shall sun dat morrow peep biaaatch!
62 Yo crazy-ass face, mah thane, be as a funky-ass book where pimps
63 May read strange matters. To beguile tha time,
64 Look like tha time; bear welcome up in yo' eye,
65 Yo crazy-ass hand, yo' tongue: be lookin like tha innocent flower,
66 But be tha serpent under't yo. Dude thatz comin
67 Must be provided for: n' you shall put
68 This nightz pimped out bidnizz tha fuck into mah dispatch;
69 Which shall ta all our nights n' minutes ta come
70 Give solely sovereign sway n' masterdom.

This would have made me cringe at 12/13. I sympathise (though impressed by talented MNers. ).

A sonnet is a fine and lovely thing
To write upon a Thursday evening fair
Abandon the TV, let silence bring
The words that you will never want to share
With one or other unrequited love
Who sits before you in your class at school
Though he knows not your heart, you'll rise above
His ignorance - he's but a teenage fool
Your heart commit to paper; do not mind
That he will never see it black on white
Use him for inspiration and you'll find
Good marks will make you see that you were right
To make of him your evening's finest feature
Because you will at least have pleased the teacher

Year 8 should be able to have a stab at sonnets (in fact those who 'hate writing poems' often feel more at ease with a strict form like that as it removes anxiety about it being "right".

I have a real hatred for "translating" Shakespeare, though. It just reinforces children's ideas that it isn't written in Proper English, as they always say.

My DD did a sonnet about Justin Bieber's arrest for this homework, btw. It was great.

I have a real hatred for "translating" Shakespeare, though. Me too Brian. DS2 has just finished and hated every minute of it.