Shakespearean Sonnet

WHAT IS A SHAKESPEAREAN SONNET?

A sonnet is poem consisting of fourteen lines crafted according to a fixed rhyme scheme. First created by Giacomo da Lentini, sonnets have now become an extremely popular style of poetry among poets all over the world. Depending upon their rhyme scheme, sonnets can be classified into various types, the most common and preferred type being the Shakespearean sonnet.

FORMAT OF A SHAKESPEAREAN SONNET

Generally written in an iambic pentameter, Shakespearean sonnets have 10 syllables in each line.  The rhyme scheme of the Shakespearian sonnet is abab–cdcd–efef–gg. Out of the 154 surviving sonnets by Shakespeare, the most popular is the Sonnet 138.

"When my love swears that she is made of truth

I do believe her, though I know she lies,

That she might think me some untutor’d youth,

Unlearned in the world’s false subtleties.

Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,

Although she knows my days are past the best,

Simply I credit her false speaking tongue:

On both sides thus is simple truth suppress’d.

But wherefore says she not she is unjust?

And wherefore say not I that I am old?

O, love’s best habit is in seeming trust,

And age in love loves not to have years told:

Therefore I lie with her and she with me,

And in our faults by lies we flatter’d be."

        

                                                   (By Sir William Shakespeare)

Note: None of poems we present belong to us. We present an organised record and analysis of them. All copyrights are reserved to the original author and we are not using plagiarized work. The originality of writes are verified to the fullest extent we can.

TIPS FOR WRITING A SHAKESPEAREAN SONNET:

1. Following the correct rhyme scheme while keeping in mind the style of an iambic pentameter

2. Understanding and trying to replicate the stanzaic structure of the sonnet

3. Altering the words in order to reach the desired requirement of 10 syllables per line

4. Making use of poetic devices like metaphors, similes, personification, etc to enhance the poem

5. Using the first stanza to develop the theme of the poem by introducing the poetic devices to be used

6. Using the second and third stanza to extend the theme and argument by giving specific details.

7. Using the last stanza to conclude the poem in a bold and captivating way.

This style of poetry has become popular due to its perfect adaptability to the writer's comfort. Owing to its short length, it is easily managed by both the writer as well as the reader.

So dear reader, lift up your pens, and pen down an awesome sonnet!

Cheers!

Japman Aneja (Member of team PoeTree FoRest)