Cai’s Blog

Here are some very simple notes on Sonnet form:

Sonnet Form

The word Sonnet is derived from the Italian word Sonnete which means song. The Sonnet form has 10 syllabus per line, this is otherwise know as Iambic Pentameter. Sonnets are also always 14 lines long. Petrach invented the Sonnet form hence the Petracan Sonnet.

Petracan Sonnets can be divided into an octet and sextet.

Petracan Sonnet form:| abbaabba | cddcee |
The first section was rigid and never changed, the second section is variable as Petrach liked to play around with this section.

Shakespeare later changed Petrach’s Sonnet form.
Shakespearian Sonnets:| ababcdcd | efefgg |
Shakespearian Sonnets were far more rigid than Petracan sonnets.

A pneumonic to remember the difference:

Shakespeare rides into the sunset on a horse called GG.
Petrach listens to ABBA.

No Comments »