When I started Frank’s Forum, one of the “super themes” designated at the time was the theme of poetry. I was thinking over the weekend about the best way to kick off the poetry portion of this blog site. I decided to focus on the Sonnet format of poetry as a “jumping off point” for the poetry theme because it is a very important and traditional format for the exploration of any number of topics.

 

I have been writing sonnets for about 17 years now, and I am still learning and refining this part of my creative writing craft. The sonnet form of poetry is fourteen lines, but depending on the type of sonnet, the lines are arranged differently to allow for variations of the rhyming scale.

 

This article will focus on a few different types of sonnets and I will provide advice to young writers or those who are new to the art of writing poetry. I will share my experience with creatively writing sonnets over many years, and provide tips to avoiding certain pitfalls when writing this particular form of poetry.

 

The Shakespearean Form

One of my personal literary favorites, William Shakespeare, is renowned internationally for his collection of sonnets. Some of his sonnets are among my favorite poems to read. The Shakespearean format for the sonnet is one of the two most common types, and I first learned this format in high school.

 

The Shakespearean format is as follows: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

The end of the format is a rhyming couplet, meaning the last two lines rhyme together. I enjoy writing in this format, and I found in my experience that it lent itself well to practice as I learned to hone my “voice” in poetry.

 

However, for the young writers out there, be careful about what words you choose to end the line in this format because it needs to have a rhythmic verse. The rhyming couplet also has to be well thought out before you set out to write in this form of sonnet in order to avoid that pitfall at the end of the piece.

 

The young or new poets or writers out there should go out and get a copy of Shakespeare’s sonnets, or purchase it for your tablet reader. I suggest getting a version with the Old English translations on the same page and not indexed in the back of the book or e-book.

 

Your respective writing will be greatly enhanced with some knowledge of Shakespeare and his works.

 

The Petrarchan or “Italian” Sonnet Form

The other most common type of sonnet is the Petrarchan or Italian sonnet form. I have written numerous times in this format, but it was only after feeling comfortable writing in the Shakespearean format that I decided to tackle the Petrarchan format.

 

The Petrarchan format is as follows: ABBAABBA CDECDE

The space between the last “A” and the “C” is known as the “volta” or “the turn”. In the Petrarchan format , the sonnet takes a turn, it changes in tone or provides a resolution.

 

The first eight lines are called the “octave”, and it is here that the scene is set, or the primary subject or conflict is introduced. Then, after the “volta”, the last six lines in this form are called the “sestet”.

 

In the “sestet” it is incumbent upon the writer to change the tone of the sonnet, or provide a resolution to the conflict introduced in the “octave”.  This type of structure can be difficult for younger writers or new writers attempting to write poetry.  This format does not contain a rhyming couplet. The sestet must add a new component or take the poem to an unanticipated place.

 

In my experience, I have found that this form of sonnet requires an outline to sketch out a plan for your piece before you begin. In contrast, I can sit down and just write other types of sonnets, the Petrarchan took some extra steps for me for a long time. Now, I can sit down and write in this form as easily as I can any other type of sonnet, but it took a great deal of practice and patience.

 

The Reverse Form – the Rupert Brooke method

Rupert Brooke was an accomplished and famous poet who loved a challenge. So, he decided to flip the sonnet on its’ head and he reversed the order to start the sonnet with the rhyming couplet.

 

The Reverse Form or the Rupert Brooke method is as follows: GG FEFEDCDBABA

The common mistake with this form of sonnet is to not have the right rhyme scheme to develop a rhyming couplet followed by twelve straight lines of content. Anyone attempting this form has also shared with me, and I have felt this myself, that it can be hard to train your mind to adjust to a sonnet in reverse.

 

That being stated, a great poem by Brooke is “Sonnet of Brotherhood” it is an incredible literary work and displays the sonnet form wonderfully.

 

Most writers have a distinct method when they sit down to create poetry, and your default mode in your mind is for one of the other two more common sonnet forms I mentioned previously in this post.

 

However, I have used this form often and I think it provides a good change of pace from the other sonnet types. Once you can get adjusted to the format changes I have found it to be a fun format to experiment within.

 

The Spenserian Sonnet Form

Spenser also decided to experiment with a hybrid form of a sonnet, which became known as the Spenserian form. This sonnet form is one in which I have the least amount of experience with in my writing career.

The rhyme scheme for a Spenserian sonnet is: abab bcbc cdcd ee

This form has a rhyming couplet and 3 quatrains, similar to the Shakespearean form, which may make it easier for young or new writers to utilize successfully.

 

The Pushkin Hybrid Sonnet form – or “shape shifter” sonnet form

The last sonnet form which I have included in this article is also one of my favorite formats to use for writing sonnets. It is the Pushkin hybrid sonnet form created by famed Russian poet Aleksandr Pushkin.

 

Pushkin mastered the format that bears his name while writing his masterpiece “Eugene Onegin” , which is a novel in verse, a collection of 365 sonnets that read like a novel. It was first published in 1833, and is a classic work of poetic genius.

 

Pushkin and his hybrid or “shape shifter” form has the following rhyme scheme: ababccddeffegg

 

Now, you will notice that there are no quatrains or “volta” or break in the form, it is 14 lines of straight rhythmic poetry. I like it for this reason: simplicity yet the genius in the simplicity because it compares to both the Italian or the Spenserian or English forms.

 

The other component I admire about this form is the consecutive rhyming lines within the body of the sonnet at “c”, “d”, and “f”. These format lines bring a soft alliteration and great flow to the sonnet.

 

I find in my experience writing in this format, it allows for great latitude and creativity. It is easier to pick up and practice your sonnet writing skills compared to other types of sonnet forms.

 

In conclusion, I hope this article will help those aspiring young or new writers out there to understand more about the sonnet form of poetry. The sonnet really is the perfect form because it is long enough to make a compelling statement, yet short enough that it is not overwhelming to produce. I wish all of you the best as you move forward writing poetry.