Definition and Basic Structure
A sonnet is a fixed poetic form consisting of 14 lines, typically written in iambic pentameter. It originated in 14th-century Italy and is divided into two main types: the Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet, with an octave and sestet, and the Shakespearean (English) sonnet, structured in three quatrains and a final couplet. Key elements include a specific rhyme scheme, a volta or turn in thought, and exploration of a single theme, often love or beauty.
Rhyme Scheme and Meter
The rhyme scheme varies by type: Petrarchan sonnets follow ABBAABBA for the octave and CDCDCD or CDECDE for the sestet, while Shakespearean sonnets use ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. Iambic pentameter, the standard meter, consists of five iambs per line—an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one—creating a rhythmic flow that mimics natural speech patterns.
Practical Example: Shakespeare's Sonnet 18
In William Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 ('Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?'), the Shakespearean structure is evident: the first 12 lines pose a question about beauty's endurance through quatrains with alternating rhymes, and the couplet resolves it by asserting the subject's eternal preservation in poetry. This illustrates the volta shifting from comparison to immortality.
Importance and Literary Applications
Sonnets provide a disciplined framework for exploring complex emotions and philosophical ideas, influencing poets from Petrarch to modern writers. They are used in literature to convey introspection, critique society, or celebrate nature, remaining a staple in education for teaching poetic technique and thematic depth.