what is a sonnet

A sonnet is a type of poem that originated in Italy in the 13th century. It is a one-stanza, 14-line poem, written in iambic pentameter. The term "sonnet" is derived from the Italian word sonetto, which means “little song" or “little sound". The sonnet is a popular classical form that has compelled poets for centuries. There are two main types of sonnets: the Petrarchan (Italian) and the Shakespearean (English) . The Petrarchan sonnet is divided into two stanzas, the octave (the first eight lines) followed by the answering sestet (the final six lines) . The Shakespearean sonnet follows a specific rhyme pattern — a-b-a-b / c-d-c-d / e-f-e-f / g-g — and the last two lines form a rhyming couplet. Sonnets usually feature two contrasting characters, events, beliefs, or emotions, and poets use the sonnet form to examine the tension that exists between the two elements.