Sonnets
A sonnet is poem written in 14 lines. These lines can be broken down into four quatrains. Sonnets are also written in iambic pentameter, a language scheme that has 10 beats per line with each line having alternating stressed and unstressed syllables.
FORMAT
The first three quatrains (paragraphs) features four lines each that rhyme in an alternating (every other) manner. The fourth quatrain has two lines that both rhyme. A sonnet may also have a very rigid rhyming scheme that is present throughout the work where every other word in a line rhymes. For example, Shakespeare's sonnets have an ABAB / CDCD / EFEF / GG rhyming scheme.
Each line of the stanza should have no more and no less than ten syllables.
Example of a sonnet:
UNAWARE
by Kaitlyn Guenther
Isolation quickly overwhelms me A
Begging for forgiveness, a fallen hand B
Desolation I now begin to see A
Hanging by a thin thread, a single strand B
I watch them… Their fears, their misbehavior C
Mistreat, abuse…. Completely unaware D
I am the land, their glorious savior C
Someday they will learn to treat me with care D
I wish they would learn to trust each other E
To join as one, to stand strong together F
A bond, a band and a mighty brother E
Forever as one, a powerful tether F
You may not know, that fear is their captor G
So you may not see each special factor G
The matching letters rhyme together
FORMAT
The first three quatrains (paragraphs) features four lines each that rhyme in an alternating (every other) manner. The fourth quatrain has two lines that both rhyme. A sonnet may also have a very rigid rhyming scheme that is present throughout the work where every other word in a line rhymes. For example, Shakespeare's sonnets have an ABAB / CDCD / EFEF / GG rhyming scheme.
Each line of the stanza should have no more and no less than ten syllables.
Example of a sonnet:
UNAWARE
by Kaitlyn Guenther
Isolation quickly overwhelms me A
Begging for forgiveness, a fallen hand B
Desolation I now begin to see A
Hanging by a thin thread, a single strand B
I watch them… Their fears, their misbehavior C
Mistreat, abuse…. Completely unaware D
I am the land, their glorious savior C
Someday they will learn to treat me with care D
I wish they would learn to trust each other E
To join as one, to stand strong together F
A bond, a band and a mighty brother E
Forever as one, a powerful tether F
You may not know, that fear is their captor G
So you may not see each special factor G
The matching letters rhyme together