SonnetsSonnets

Sonnet : DefinitionSonnet : Definition

• A romantic poemA romantic poem

• 14 lines14 lines

• Must have rhyme schemeMust have rhyme scheme

• Compares two thingsCompares two things

• Contains a Volta or Turn (But Phrase)Contains a Volta or Turn (But Phrase)

Sonnet StyleSonnet Style

• Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter• PentameterPentameter

•5 beats5 beats

• IambIamb•Stressed/Unstressed Syllable pairsStressed/Unstressed Syllable pairs

When When inin dis disgracegrace with with ForFortune tune andand men’s men’s eyeseyes

Types of SonnetsTypes of Sonnets

• Italian (Petrarchan) SonnetItalian (Petrarchan) Sonnet

• Spenserian SonnetSpenserian Sonnet

• English (Shakespearean) SonnetEnglish (Shakespearean) Sonnet

The Italian SonnetThe Italian Sonnet

• Divided into two sectionsDivided into two sections– Octave (8 Lines)Octave (8 Lines)– Sestet (6 Lines)Sestet (6 Lines)

• The Volta will usually be located on The Volta will usually be located on Line #9Line #9

Italian Sonnet Cont.Italian Sonnet Cont.

• Rhyme schemeRhyme scheme

• OctaveOctave•A B B A A B B AA B B A A B B A

• SestetSestet•No set rhyme scheme (multiple variations No set rhyme scheme (multiple variations

available)available)

Spenserian SonnetSpenserian Sonnet

• Divided in to 4 sectionsDivided in to 4 sections– 3 Quatrains (4 lines each)3 Quatrains (4 lines each)– 1 Couplet (2 lines)1 Couplet (2 lines)

• The Volta is still usually located on The Volta is still usually located on line 9line 9

Spenserian Sonnet Cont.Spenserian Sonnet Cont.

• Rhyme SchemeRhyme Scheme– A B AA B A B B– B C B CB C B C– C D C DC D C D– E EE E

Shakespearean SonnetShakespearean Sonnet

• Divided the same as a Spenserian Divided the same as a Spenserian SonnetSonnet– 3 Quatrains (4 lines each)3 Quatrains (4 lines each)– 1 Couplet (2 lines)1 Couplet (2 lines)

• The Volta moves around more in this The Volta moves around more in this type of sonnet than in any other.type of sonnet than in any other.

Shakespearean Sonnet Shakespearean Sonnet Cont.Cont.• Rhyme SchemeRhyme Scheme

– A B A BA B A B– C D C DC D C D– E F E FE F E F– G GG G

• SpenserianSpenserian– A B A BA B A B– B C B CB C B C– C D C DC D C D– E EE E