Sonnet — Definition, Form, and Examples

Written by

Daniel Bal

February 13, 2024

Edited by

Courtney Adamo

Fact-checked by

Paul Mazzola

What is a sonnet?

The sonnet is a widely recognized form of poetry that dates back to 13th century Italy. All sonnets have 14 lines and include a volta. The rhyme scheme and meter may vary based on the type of sonnet. The four types of sonnets are Shakespearean, Petrarchan, Spenserian, and Miltonic.

The English sonnet comes from the Italian sonetto, meaning “little sound or song.” Sir Thomas Wyatt introduced these traditional sonnets to England in the early 16th century. Wyatt’s contemporary, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, adapted the Italian form to establish the structure Shakespeare later used.

Shakespearean sonnets

Also known as an English sonnet, the form became popular with William Shakespeare’s sonnets during the Elizabethan era. English sonnets typically revolve around the concept of romance and beauty that includes a question or argument in the opening quatrain (first four lines).

The rest of the poem then develops the question or argument until the speaker comes to an answer or response to the question posed in the first lines. This response typically occurs in the final couplet (two lines) of the poem.

Petrarchan sonnets

Also known as an Italian sonnet, the Petrarchan sonnet was named after Italian poet Petrarch and became popular in the 14th century. While this form is named after Francesco Petrarch, the originator was Giacomo da Lentini, an Italian poet from 13th century Sicily. The Petrarchan version is the original form of the sonnet.

While mainly focusing on love, Petrarchan sonnets can cover a variety of additional themes, including fame, talent, virtue, and patience. The Italian sonnet also typically incorporate a blazon, which is elaborate praise or, occasionally, excessive scorn for the subject.

Spenserian sonnets

Developed by the English poet Edmund Spenser in the 16th century, the Spenserian sonnet reorganizes the structure of the Shakespearian sonnet into rhyming couplets to place less pressure on the final lines to answer the question or resolve the argument.

Miltonic sonnets

Poet John Milton popularized the Miltonic sonnet in the 17th century. Miltonic sonnets’ subject matter is less focused on love and other emotional subjects; instead, they revolve around politics, intellectual pursuits, and spirituality. Miltonic poems often include an internal struggle or conflict with less emphasis on the natural world.

Sonnet form

Each type of sonnet contains 14 lines, some rhyme scheme, a volta, and meter.

• Lines: 14

• Rhyme Scheme: Although the rhyme scheme varies by type, each has a set pattern.

• Volta: Also known as a turn, the volta indicates a shift in the speaker’s understanding of the poem’s subject, which leads to an insight of some kind. The volta typically takes place when transitioning from the octave to the sestet or between the last quatrain and couplet.

• Meter: Sonnets are generally written in iambic pentameter, which consists of five sets of one unstressed and one stressed syllable, giving each line 10 total syllables. However, the metric pattern can vary slightly.

Each of the four main types of sonnets has its own distinct form:

Shakespearean

• Structure: Three quatrains (4 lines each; 12 total lines) and a couplet (2 lines)

• Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

Petrarchan

• Structure: One octave (8 lines) and one sestet (6 lines)

• Rhyme Scheme: ABBAABBA CDECDE or ABBAABBA CDCDCD

Spenserian

• Structure: Three quatrains (4 lines each; 12 total lines) and a couplet (2 lines)

• Rhyme Scheme: ABAB BCBC CDCD EE

Miltonic

• Structure: One octave (8 lines) and one sestet (6 lines)

• Rhyme Scheme: ABBAABBA CDECDE

Sonnet examples

The following examples incorporate the structure of the four types of sonnets:

Shakespearian

Sonnet 59 by William Shakespeare

Petrarchan

“How Do I Love Thee?” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Spenserian

Sonnet LXV by Edmund Spenser

Miltonic

“When I Consider How My Light Is Spent” by John Milton