Sonnets

=Welcome to the Sonnet Page=

What is a sonnet?
A sonnet is a poem, properly expressive of a single, complete thought, idea, or sentiment, of 14 lines, usually in iambic pentameter, with rhymes arranged according to one of certain definite schemes.



Huh?
Basically, a sonnet is a poem with 14 lines, which expresses a main thought or feeling, and usually following the iambic form. Iambic form is a poem which uses mostly iambs, which are basically meters in poetry. An iamb is two syllables. It is described as short, then long. Meaning you say one syllable or word short, and then stress the second one by drawing it out. Shakespeare used these quite a bit. He followed the iambic pentameter, meaning that he had five meters in each line. Shakespeare had five iambs in each line. The pattern was as follows. da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM When used correctly, the iambic pentameter almost sounds like a clock.

