Understanding Sonnets

Must consist of 14 lines

Must be written in iambic pentameter

an iambic foot is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable

Iambic pentameter has 5 of these Iams ina row for one line of poetry

Must consist of 14 lines

Must be written in iambic pentameter

Must be written with a rhyme scheme

abab cdcd efef gg (3 quatrains + 1 couplet)

Must contain an argument

1Q = exposition of main theme - main metaphor; 2Q expand the theme + metaphor; 3Q = a twist or conflict, introduced with "but"; Couplet = summarize and leave our reader with a NEW concluding image

Must consist of 14 lines

Must be written in iambic pentameter

Must have a rhyme scheme - Divided into 2 sections: 1-8 - octave - abba abba; 9-14 = sestet - flexible, cdcdcd, cddcdc, cdecde, cdeced, cdcedc - NEVER ENDS IN COUPLET

Must contain a theme - Octave = presents theme; Sestet = develops theme