MASTERING THE SHAKESPEAREAN SONNET

If you tell yourself that you can't write a sonnet as well as the William Shakespear, guess what? You are probably correct! However, that should not STOP you from writing a Shakespearean sonnet that is also known as an Elizabethan or English sonnet.

Seriously, stop talking yourself out of writing a Shakespearean sonnet. As a matter of fact, once you try writing this poetic style, you might find it to be your favorite. It's mine. After going online and teaching myself how to write a Shakespearean sonnet, the style won my heart. The simplicity of fourteen lines, the organization of the stanzas into three quatrains with one ending couplet, the meter, and the iambic pentameter spoke to me.

While there is the Petrarchan sonnet, which was developed by a string of Renaissance poets, the style was named after Francesco Petrarca. You may know this style as an Italian sonnet.

So, forget the Italian sonnet that has fourteen lines and a different rhyme scheme. We are here to master the Shakespearean sonnet. 'Here are some simple steps:

1. select a subject

2. use the rhyme scheme

3. write lines in iambic pentameter

4. follow the stanzaic structure

When selecting your subject, it could be a feeling, a thought, or your favorite subjects; such as sports, music, seasons, etc. Simply put, a sonnet must be about one single idea.

The Shakespearean sonnet has a specific rhyme pattern. The rhyme pattern is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

A sonnet has 14 lines and is organized in stanzas with three quatrains of four lines each one set or couplet of two lines.

In my example, the first quatrain below has the end rhyme scheme or pattern that looks like this: ABAB, 'adore', 'by', 'soar', 'sigh'.

Moving to the second quatrain, the rhyme scheme looks like this: CDCD 'met', 'change', 'fret', 'rage'.

The third quatrain has the EFEF rhyme scheme or pattern. In my poem and example below it looks like this: 'thee', 'wait', 'see', 'late'.

Did you do the math? That's only twelve lines. Were you paying attention? A sonnet ALWAYS has 14 lines. You need two more lines. The final lines are called a couplet. The pattern or rhyme scheme for the couplet is GG. Below, the rhyming words in the couplet example are reason and season. You use words that haven't been used in the rhyming thus far. Let me reiterate, "Do not use the rhyming words that you already used in your sonnet."

In addition, the couplet can be used to put emphasis on the main idea. to offer a humorous perspective or to undermine it.

In a Shakespearean sonnet, there is a metrical pattern which is iambic pentameter. So, what is iambus? It's a two-syllable foot with the first unstressed and the second stressed, for example, rea/SON, for/LORN.

If you need five feet, that means that every line in a sonnet must have 10 syllables. It's called pentameter which means five and iambic pentameter meaning five feet. It's been said that iambic pentameter occurs naturally in English speech.

As we learned, the Shakespearean sonnet should be written in iambic pentameter. However, it should be noted that you can vary the meter from time to time. Not all the time, but occasionally, Using meter variation, you can emphasize a key point or phrase.

For example, after two perfect iambic pentameter lines, you could add a spondee, meaning two stressed syllables in a row: RUM-RUM.

Below is my first Shakespearean sonnet, it has the pattern and the quatrain and couplet information emboldened. Considered each quatrain as paragraph that explores an element of the poem's subject.

Summer, Love

Sonnet #1

Follow the stanza structure that is noted below in bold.

The First quatrain exposes the theme - the introducton

My heart is over the moon, bright stars adore. A

When time slows down, sweet glance is love close by. B

Winter comes to an end and our spirits soar. A

Singing sea and the music plays, a love sigh. B

The Second quatrain continued the theme and imaginative examples given

In the grass, warmth lies still and sweet, we met. C

Now gone, the cold lonely wind blows a change. D

Carefree breezes embrace those who do not fret. C

The heart is one, a new rush surge, not rage. D

Third quatrain twist or conflict

Pure love so sweet, the air blossoms for thee. E

Quickly, the sun rays spread a kiss, doth wait. F

The sweetness is real and simple, you see. E

A day at the seashore, swimming so late: F

Couplet: Summarizes, a concluding image

Blooms to celebrate the special reason. G

That Summer should be our secret season. G

Honestly, the Shakespearean sonnet isn't as difficult to write as you might have thought. When you are ready, choose a subject; follow the rhyme schemes or patterns; write fourteen lines in iambic pentameter (10 syllables), not ten words, following the stanza structure. With this knowledge, you are ready to master writing this beautiful poetic style.

Writer's notes: This was written for the Vocal Social Society's Collaborative Writer's Self Help Guide. Keep writing!