A sonnet is a special type of 14-line poem with a strict rhyme scheme and meter. It’s like a poetic puzzle with rules! Here’s how it works:

1. Two Main Types of Sonnets
A. Shakespearean (English) Sonnet
Structure:

3 quatrains (4-line stanzas) + 1 couplet (2-line stanza).

Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

Volta (Turn): The “twist” or big idea often happens before the final couplet.

Example: Shakespeare’s “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”

B. Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet
Structure:

1 octave (8 lines) + 1 sestet (6 lines).

Rhyme scheme: ABBAABBA CDECDE (or other sestet patterns).

Volta (Turn): The “twist” happens after line 8.

Example: “How Do I Love Thee?” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

2. Key Rules of a Sonnet
14 Lines: No more, no less!

Rhyme Scheme: Follows a pattern (like ABAB or ABBA).

Meter: Usually iambic pentameter (10 syllables per line, da-DUM rhythm).

Example: “Shall I | com-PARE | thee TO | a SUM- | mer’s DAY?”

Volta: A “turn” where the poem shifts ideas (like a plot twist!).

3. Example Sonnet (Simple Version)
“My Dog” (Shakespearean-style)
My dog is fluffy, sweet, and very small, (A)
He barks at squirrels climbing up the tree. (B)
He chases leaves whenever they should fall, (A)
And wags his tail so happily at me. (B)

He digs up flowers in my mom’s backyard, (C)
Then naps all day curled up inside his bed. (D)
His puppy eyes make forgiving not hard, (C)
Though muddy paws track all across the shed. (D)

But when the moon glows bright and stars appear, (E)
He howls a song so lonely and so slow. (F)
I hug him tight and whisper in his ear, (E)
“You’re not a wolf—just quit your drama, bro!” (F)

My dog’s a goof, but still, I love him so, (G)
He’s my best friend, and that’s all I need to know. (G)

What to Notice:

14 lines, ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhymes.

Volta: Line 9 shifts from daytime antics to nighttime howling.

Couplet: The last two lines wrap up the poem like a conclusion.

4. Why Sonnets Matter
They teach discipline (like following a recipe).

They pack big ideas into a small space (like a TikTok video but for poetry!).

Famous writers (Shakespeare, Maya Angelou) used them to talk about love, nature, and life.