Sonnet

The sonnet, from the Italian sonetto meaning “little song,” is one of the better-known forms of poetry.

Made famous by the Italian writer Petrarch, the traditional sonnet consists of fourteen lines divided into two stanzas of eight and six lines each. There is no definitive structure or rhyme scheme of the sonnet, because over time different writers have given it their own poetic spin.

Shakespearean sonnets are broken into 4 sections, called quatrains. They maintain a strict rhyme scheme ABAB  //  CDCD  //  EFEF  //  GG.

What are the rules of writing a sonnet?

• The sonnet must have 14 lines.
• Each line has 10 syllables.
• Each line usually rhymes using the following syllable pattern:
  - soft-LOUD-soft-LOUD-soft-LOUD-soft-LOUD-soft-LOUD
• Sonnets often describe a problem and solution, or question and answer.
• The transition from problem to solution (or question to answer) is called the volta (turn).

Rhyme Schemes

The quatrains are usually setup as such:

• 1st Quatrain:
  - Purpose: establishes the subject
  - # of lines: 4
  - Rhyme Pattern: ABAB
• 2nd Quatrain:
  - Purpose: introduces theme (starts painting the picture)
  - # of lines: 4
  - Rhyme Pattern: CDCD
• 3rd Quatrain:
  - Purpose: finalizes theme
  - # of lines: 4
  - Rhyme Pattern: EFEF
• 4th Quatrain:
  - Purpose: final thoughts
  - # of lines: 4
  - Rhyme Pattern: GG

Read More

• ABAB  //  CDCD  //  EFEF  //  GG