What is a sonnet?

Blog Posted by Rama Balasubramanian: 9/22/2021 11:41:00 PM

I learned about Sonnet at Poetry Soup. 10 syllables per line, 14 lines is what I felt. Now I find many writing non rhyming, sonnets with erratic syllables. I am confused. What is a sonnet? Can any body elucidate?

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Arthur
Vaso

Date: 9/27/2021 11:38:00 PM

A sonnet is simply a couplet that didn't know when to stop! :)

Craig
Cornish

Date: 9/27/2021 2:01:00 PM

There are over 50 sonnet forms - most have a variety of rhyme schemes and meter requirements--most here do not write the traditional standard forms correctly--to view any meter requirements by syllables is the wrong way to approach any meter requirement and MOST cannot do that--but if you want to truly know, research it on line because it is an extensive topic way too extensive to simplify.

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 9/23/2021 3:37:00 PM

what Constance said!! Also, I always prefer the traditional ones, but that's just me!!

Constance
La France

Date: 9/23/2021 8:44:00 AM

Rama, the traditional way of writing Sonnet is 14 lines, abab cdcd efef gg - 10 syllables per line but there are many, many ways to write a sonnet, usually if a sponsor wants a traditional they will state that but you can explore the other ways of writing sonnets as William has explained so well below, what to know is that a sonnet can be any rhyming scheme and and does not have to be 10 syllables per line, but if entering a contest with a non traditional sonnet, I would put a note on the bottom of your poem ~ love and serenity _Constance

Craig Cornish
Date: 9/27/2021 2:06:00 PM

Rama - the simple answer about sonnets having different syllables per line is yes - the complex answer is much more involved--Modern/Contemporary sonnets being a good example of varied line length--but I prefer to call those quatorzains. Again, like anything if you truly want to know the correct answers seek them out--too complex for these spaces.

Unseeking Seeker
Date: 9/24/2021 8:39:00 AM

Rama Balasubramanian
Date: 9/23/2021 9:09:00 AM

Thanks a ton Constance. I didn't know that and was confused when I saw many sonnets each different from others. Can sonnets have different syllables in each line?