How to Write a Sonnet

Become a modern day Shakespeare as you discover the fun and creativity of writing a sonnet. Created in the thirteenth century in Italy, the sonnet is a formal poem with fixed elements - fourteen lines with a set rhyme and metrical scheme. The beginning of a sonnet explores a situation, a quandary or problem, and the end of the sonnet responds with an answer. Sonnet means "little song" and was a popular form of poetry before Shakespeare and this poetic form has been used by poets ever since. Once you know the formula and some simple techniques, you can try your hand at writing a sonnet.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper, pens, pencils
• Inspiration
• Some time
• Patience
• Some creativity
• Access to books containing sonnets

1. 
    
   Sonnets Have Rhythm and Rhyme

   The structure in a sonnet is "iambic pentameter" which indicates the meter or beats per line. Meter is based on the stressed and unstressed syllables in words. When you write a sonnet, it's like putting a puzzle together. You have to analyze the words and the syllables. This process of counting the number and the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line is called "scanning." The pattern of rhythm produces a poetic beat that is much like music. The meter in a line of poetry refers to the "foot" and the number of "feet" in the line. A "foot" consists of a stressed syllable and one or more unstressed syllables. An "iamb" is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. Hence, iambic pentameter is five "feet" per line or five "iambs." If you read a lot of sonnets aloud (Shakespeare, Edna St. Vincent Millay) you will notice the pattern or rhythm or stresses in each line. What helps in writing sonnets is including repetition, rhyme, rhythm, and meter. Sound elements are important since the reader can "hear" the beat as the poem is read aloud. Rhyme, too, is important in a sonnet. "Rhyme scheme" is the end rhyme. There is a formula for applying this rhyme scheme to a sonnet. If the first four line of a poem have an "abab" rhyme scheme, it means line one rhymes with like three and line two rhymes with line four. Read some sonnets and identify the rhyme scheme and notice the rhythm in the structure of the poem.

2. 
    
   Images are Important in Sonnets

   Rhyme and repetition are devices used in sonnets. Rhyme can be end rhyme or at the end of lines or it can be internal rhyme and appear within the line itself. Repetition is sometimes called a refrain. This refrain often appears at the beginning or end of a poem or a stanza. It is the reappearance of a sound or a word or a phrase or a line. It is used to emphasize something important or to make the reader more aware of an emotion or situation. The poem is told in the voice of the speaker or the person telling the poem. The speaker might be a man or a woman or a child or even a ghost. A typical rhyme scheme would be an end rhyme formula that is "abab, cdcd, efef, gg." But there are no hard and fast rules. Another rhyme scheme might be "aabb, ccdd, eeff, gg." In this formula the sonnet is written in rhyming couplets. The first two lines rhyme, the second two lines rhyme, and so on.

3. 
    
   Find the Meter in a Sonnet

   Okay, you've read some sonnets. You're ready to play the game and juggle words a bit. Get out your pens and paper and have at it. Jot down some words you like. Try to put two lines together with an end rhyme. Read the lines aloud and substitute or change words so that there is a rhythm and try to make it feel right with the stressed and unstressed vowels. The lines should match, fit together, have a beat or rhythm. Remember that a sonnet has fourteen lines. Remember, too, that a sonnet most often establishes a problem at the beginning of the poem and this problem is addressed or answered at the end during the last few lines.

4. 
    
   Sonnets Can be Challenging and Fun

   Sonnets should be fun like doing crossword puzzles or playing word search games. Make a list of words you like. Think of images you want to portray. Read lots of sonnets to see how the great poets pulled it off and follow their examples. It takes practice to write a good sonnet. It deserves your time and creative energy and patience. In the end, you'll have a work of art. See the tips below for other ideas to help you in your quest to write a sonnet.

Tips & Warnings

• The modern sonnet allows you leeway to veer from the formula.
• It's okay to vary the rhyme, line length, and meter.
• A sonnet is a lot like a song.
• An end rhyme are lines that end with rhyming words.
• Try to create images in your poetry.
• Choose your words carefully in poetry.
• As you read your lines aloud, try tapping a table to get the beat.
• Read some of Shakespeare's sonnets.
• Read Poe's "Annabel Lee" and listen to the rhythm.
• Every word should count and mean something.

[Kilogramm]

on 8/10/2008 This is a great and detailed how to!