SAMPLE: Poetry

Title: Gee, This Is Just Like Sharing!

Background: Sound, like light, is all about us. This poem describes a type of musical instrument and two situations of sound generation.

Reference: http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/

When To Her Lute Corinna Sings
by Thomas Campion

When to her lute Corrina sings,
Her voice reuiues the leaden stringes,
And doth in highest noates appeare,
As any challeng'd eccho cleere ;
But when she doth of mourning speake,
Eu'n with her sighes the strings do breake.

And as her lute doth liue or die,
Led by her passion, so must I,
For when of pleasure she doth sing,
My thoughts enioy a sodaine spring,
But if she doth of sorrow speake,
Eu'n from my hart the strings doe breake.

Questions:

1. a) What sound phenomenon is described in lines 1-2?
b) Describe how this phenomenon works.

2. Think of another example of this phenomenon.

3. How do we make sounds during speech or singing?

4. Why do Corrina's vocal structures allow her to produce her high clear notes?

5. a) Music has a large significance for all of us. Who may be describing the situation for us?
b) How does Corrina's mood affect this person?

6. Suggest a meaning for lines 3-4.

7. Name a modern instrument which is it closely related to the lute.

Note: reuiues = revives, Eu'n = Even, liue = live, sodaine = sudden, doe = do