How to Write a Sonnet Like Shakespeare

A little patience can have you following in the path of Shakespeare.

Shakespeare's sonnets are considered the greatest examples in the genre, though Italians might argue that Petrarch's are better. If you want to write a sonnet like Shakespeare, it is best to learn from him, but don't try to imitate him. Because he lived more than 400 years ago, it is best to try to adapt his form to modern concerns and imagine how he might write today.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Notebook
• Copy of Shakespeare's sonnets
• Dictionary
• Thesaurus

Read Shakespeare's Sonnets

1. Read a collection of Shakespeare's sonnets, and take notes about the poems that strike you as especially powerful, marking down any images, feelings or phrases that stand out. Notice how many different topics he addresses: love; friendship; anger; lust; ambition; and jealousy. Try to determine if the sonnets tell a story. (Some critics see the sonnets as telling the story of a love affair; others find them to be about a young man trying to achieve fame. Still others see them simply as individual poems with little connection among them.)

2. Note the form of the sonnet. The number of lines, the number of syllables per line and the rhyme scheme make these poems Shakespearean sonnets. Shakespeare's sonnets are 14 lines, and they are broken into three "quatrains" (four-line sections) and a final couplet (two lines that rhyme). The "meter," or rhythm of the sonnets, is called iambic pentameter. An "iamb" is a certain kind of poetic "beat" (called a "foot") that consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. Iambic pentameter means there are five iambic feet (or 10 syllables) in each line.

3. Note the rhyme scheme. The rhyme scheme reads "abab cdcd efef gg," where each letter stands for a sound. In the first sonnet, for example, the final couplet ("gg") rhymes "be" with "thee."

Write a Sonnet

1. Note which of Shakespeare's sonnets captured your attention the most. Note its theme, the imagery and the sound of the words together.

2. Choose what moved you most and brainstorm or write about that theme, image or sound. Don't try to fit the form of the sonnet; merely get your ideas down on paper.

3. Decide how to group your ideas. Remember that Shakespeare always used three quatrains and a final couplet. Before you start to write, make sure you have three or four different groups of ideas, images or sounds.

4. Try to write each line with only 10 syllables. Don't worry if it doesn't fit perfectly; you can edit it later.

5. Look for rhymes among your ideas. Concentrate on working in words you like. Find similar words that rhyme with those you like. Use a dictionary or thesaurus to help you.

6. Read your full draft aloud. Listen for what sounds good and what may need revision.

7. Revise your poem. This part often takes the longest. Some poets say it takes them years to completely revise their poems.

Tips & Warnings

• Write about ideas that matter to you. Don't feel as if you have to write about the same themes as Shakespeare.

• Remember that writing poetry takes a long time, so don't give up. No one knows where inspiration comes from, so you may have to wait for the perfect idea, image or line to pop into your head.

Resources

• OpenSource Shakespeare: Shakespeare's Complete Sonnets