Now that you know where the Shakespearean sonnet originated, and a little of its history, let’s focus on organization, or how to write a Shakespearean sonnet.Ĭreating the Structure of a Shakespearean Sonnet Shakespeare particularly enjoyed using the last rhyming couplet in a sonnet to add a humorous twist at the end of a serious poem, or to go from light-hearted to sober. Then the last two lines sum it up, either seriously or lightly.
In a typical Shakespearean sonnet, the first twelve lines of poetry will explore the subject in different ways. By dividing the first 12 lines into three rhyming sections, and then concluding with a pithy or deep two-verse rhymed couplet, Shakespeare and others took more time to explore subjects. Shakespeare’s sonnets became so popular that the English form is now remembered as the Shakespearean sonnet. While Shakespeare didn’t create this style, most of his sonnets were written using the English sonnet form.
While the Petrarchan sonnet was divided into two parts, with a turning point or “volta” occurring 8 lines into the sonnet, the English modified this form. Nobles enjoyed dabbling in poetry, and the sonnet was a popular way of romanticizing a loved one. It was particularly popular among the upper classes of English society. The Italian, or Petrarchan sonnet arrived in England during the 16th century. The word “sonnet” comes from the Italian and means “little song.” That’s because, when read aloud, a sonnet flows like a song. Remember that definition we’ll come back to it in a little bit. That means that every second syllable is stressed, or emphasized - with there being 10 syllables in each line. Keep reading and before long you’ll be ready to write your own Shakespearean sonnet.Īt its core, a sonnet is 14 lines of poetry. We will look at some history and structure before getting down to the how-tos of Shakespearean sonnet writing. After all, you need to know what you’re working with before you can do it well. But what is a Shakespearean sonnet, you might ask? Can you learn how to write a Shakespearean sonnet today?Ĭhances are your high school English class is a distant memory. You can write a Shakespearean sonnet! Yes, you.
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