Sonnet Ideas
A sonnet is a kind of poem that has a specific structure and rhyme scheme. There are actually two main types of sonnet. These are called the Petrarchan and the Shakespearean. The sonnet originated in Italy and was usually about romance. In the 16th century, sonnets became a popular form in the English language. Sonnets don't have to about love anymore. Modern poetry includes sonnets about all kinds of subjects.
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Petrarchan Sonnets
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The Petrarchan is the original and most common form of sonnet. The form comes from Italy, where the language has more rhymes than English. The poem is divided into two parts. The first eight lines present some argument or question. The next six lines change the rhyme pattern, and provide an answer or counterargument. A Petrarchan sonnet can be serious or funny.
Shakespearean Sonnets
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William Shakespeare did not invent the sonnet form that bears his name, but he did write many of them. The Shakespearean sonnet is actually an adaptation of the Petrarchan sonnet. It is more suited to the English language. There are 14 lines in the Shakespearean sonnet. Three sets of four lines called "quatrains" are finished off with a "heroic couplet" of two lines. The last couplet usually has a twist or dramatic closing to the sonnet.
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Modern Sonnets
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Poets today are less likely to use the structured and rhyming blueprint of the sonnet. When poets do choose the sonnet, it is often for the sake of being witty. Modern poets also bend a lot of the traditional rules about sonnet writing. They might use more or less lines, or invent a new rhyme pattern. No one gets in trouble for changing the rules of poetry.
Ideas for Sonnets
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The sonnet is always a good choice for a love poem. They are short and direct, so you have to be very careful with word choice. Sonnets force you to say exactly what you mean while adhering to a pattern. Nature poems also work well as sonnets. Try writing a sonnet that describes a person, place or thing. This is great practice for poetry writing in general, and trains you to be a good observer of details.
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