The sonnet is a famous and important type of poem. It has been around for hundreds of years. Many famous poets have written sonnets that are still loved and studied today.
A sonnet has just 14 lines organized specially. But writing a good one takes skill. You have to say a lot in just a few lines and make it rhyme and flow properly.
Shakespeare was a master of the sonnet form. His sonnets are some of the most famous poems ever written. Poets like Elizabeth Barrett Browning also became renowned for their wonderful sonnets exploring love and other deep feelings.
Over a million sonnets have been composed throughout history. That huge number shows just how beloved and lasting this poetic form has proven to be.
In the sections ahead, we will look at 9 key techniques for writing your own powerful sonnet poems. These tips can help new poets learn the craft of the sonnet. They can also help experienced poets add new creativity to their sonnet writing.
Whether you are just starting with sonnets or have written many before, mastering these 9 approaches will allow you to join the long tradition of linguistic artists creating rewarding 14-line poetic gems.
Sonnet Poem Rules
Here are five key rules for writing a sonnet poem, explained briefly:
- A sonnet must consist of 14 lines, traditionally written in iambic pentameter. This means each line has 10 syllables with a specific stress pattern.
- Sonnets follow a set rhyme scheme. The most common is the Shakespearean rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The Petrarchan sonnet, or Italian sonnet is ABBA ABBA CDE CDE.
- Sonnets are divided into two sections - an octave (first 8 lines) and a sestet (remaining 6 lines). The octave presents the theme or problem, while the sestet offers a resolution or commentary.
- Many sonnets include a "volta," or turn, where the poem shifts in tone, perspective, or metaphor, often around lines 9-11.
- Traditionally, sonnets focused on romantic love, but modern sonnets explore diverse topics like nature, death, social issues, etc. However, they maintain the sonnet structure.
Love Sonnets: Shakespeare Sonnets
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go,
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.
Explanation:
In this sonnet, Shakespeare is talking about his lover. Instead of describing her as perfect and comparing her to beautiful things like the sun or roses, he's honest about her appearance. He says her eyes aren't as bright as the sun, her lips aren't as red as coral, and her cheeks aren't as rosy as roses.
He even mentions that her breath doesn't smell like perfume. However, despite these "flaws," he still loves her deeply. He concludes by saying that his love for her is real and genuine, and it's not based on false comparisons or unrealistic expectations. So, even though she may not fit the traditional standards of beauty, she's still special and unique to him.
When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
Explanation:
In this sonnet, Shakespeare is feeling down and out. He feels like he's been abandoned by luck and rejected by other people. He's all alone, feeling sorry for himself, and wishing he had what other people have—like wealth, friends, and talent. But then he thinks about his beloved, and suddenly everything changes.
Just the thought of his beloved lifts him, like a bird singing at dawn. The memory of their love is so powerful that it makes him feel rich and content, even though he may not have all the things he desires. In the end, he realizes that the love of his beloved is worth more to him than any worldly riches or status.
How to write a sonnet poem with AI Poem Generator
Here are 9 steps to writing a sonnet poem with an AI poem generator:
- Pick a topic or subject you want your sonnet to be about, like love, nature, or deep thought.
- Decide if you want to follow the Shakespearean rhyme scheme (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG) or the Italian rhyme scheme (ABBA ABBA CDE CDE) for your 14 lines.
- Tell the AI poem generator the topic and rhyme scheme pattern you chose.
- Let this poem maker create the initial 14 lines of your sonnet, making them rhyme in the pattern you selected.
- Read through the AI's draft lines carefully. Rephrase or change any lines that don't quite capture what you wanted to say.
- Make sure each of the 14 lines has 10 syllables and follows the proper rhythm and stress pattern.
- Decide around which lines (usually 9-11) you want to have a "shift" or "turn" in your sonnet's thought or perspective.
- Polish the first 8 lines to introduce the main idea, and refine the last 6 lines to resolve or comment on that idea.
- Re-read your sonnet draft multiple times, making any final edits to improve the flow, imagery, and overall impact.
Related Topics:
- How to Write a Poem in 7 Steps
- 15 Types of Poems to Know, With Examples
- 7 Rules of Writing an Elegy Poem
Final Words
Learning to write sonnets is a fun and rewarding adventure. Sonnets are special poems with a long history. They let you express many feelings in just a few lines, using rhymes and rhythm. With the nine tips we discussed in the content, anyone can start writing their sonnets, whether they're new to poetry or have been writing for a while. So, whether you like the classic style of Shakespeare's sonnets or something different, give it a try! Explore your creativity and join the many who enjoy writing these beautiful sonnet poems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sonnet poem?
A sonnet poem is a type of poem that consists of 14 lines with a specific rhyme scheme and meter. It traditionally explores themes of love, nature, or human emotions.
How short can a sonnet be?
In its shortest form, a sonnet consists of 14 lines, each with one word, still maintaining the structure and essence of the poetic form. For example, "Love: Heart, Ache, Desire, Fire, Burn, Yearn, Embrace, Grace, Together, Forever, Eternal, Soul, Whole."
What are the rules of sonnet poems?
The rules of a sonnet include 14 lines, specific rhyme schemes (ABBAABBACDCDCD for Petrarchan, ABABCDCDEFEFGG for Shakespearean), iambic pentameter, and a structured division into parts.
Sonnets often explore themes like love or time, requiring concise yet expressive language within the prescribed form.
How do you write a sonnet with 10 syllables?
A sonnet has 14 lines with 10 syllables each. Each line has pairs of stressed syllables, like a beat.