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.

Richard Cory by Edwin Robinson

“Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
“Good-morning,” and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine, we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head.”

1. Each stanza follows an alternating rhyme pattern (e.g., town/him/crown/slim in Stanza 1).

2. Number of Stanzas:
4 stanzas (each with 4 lines).

3. Number of Quatrains:
4 quatrains (all stanzas are 4 lines long).

4. Number of Sestets:
0 (no 6-line stanzas).

5. Number of Couplets:
0 (no consecutive rhyming pairs; the rhyme scheme is alternating, not paired).

6. Type of Sonnet:
Not a sonnet. Though the poem has 16 lines (close to a sonnet’s 14), it lacks:

A traditional sonnet structure (e.g., Petrarchan or Shakespearean).

A consistent volta (turn) or resolution.

7. Volta (Turn):
Yes, in the final stanza. The poem’s tone shifts abruptly from admiration to shock with the revelation of Richard Cory’s suicide:

Lines 1–12: Describe Cory’s perfection and the townspeople’s envy.

Lines 13–16: The volta occurs at “And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,” leading to the tragic climax.

What is a Couplet?

A couplet is a pair of consecutive lines in poetry that:

Rhyme (e.g., light/night).

Share the same meter (e.g., iambic pentameter).

Often form a complete thought or unit of meaning.

Couplets can stand alone or be part of a larger poem (like Shakespearean sonnets, which end with a couplet).

Examples:

1. Nature’s Whisper (Two Couplets)
The wind hums soft through autumn trees,
And shakes the leaves with playful ease.

The moon then paints the sky with gold,
While stars their ancient stories told.

Features:

Rhyme scheme: AA BB.

Meter: Iambic tetrameter (4 beats per line).

2. Lost and Found (Single Couplet)
I dropped my dreams beside the shore,
But found them in the ocean’s roar.

Features:

Rhyme scheme: AA.

Complete idea in two lines.

What is a Quatrain?

A quatrain is a 4-line stanza in poetry with a specific:

Rhyme scheme (e.g., ABAB, AABB, ABBA).

Meter (e.g., iambic pentameter).

Complete thought or image.

Quatrains are versatile and appear in everything from nursery rhymes to epic poems.

1. “The River’s Song” (ABAB Rhyme)
The river hums a lullaby, [A]
Beneath the moon’s soft silver glow. [B]
It whispers secrets to the sky, [A]
Then dances where the wild winds blow. [B]

Features:

Rhyme: ABAB (by/glow/sky/blow).

Meter: Iambic tetrameter (4 beats per line).

Theme: Nature’s music and motion.

2. “Grandma’s Kitchen”
The cookies bake, the air smells sweet, [A]
A sugary, cinnamon treat. [A]
Her laughter rings, [B]
the timer sings. [B]

Features:

Meter: Mixed (mostly iambic).

Theme: Nostalgia and sensory joy.

Quatrains and Couplets – “The Garden’s Secret”

Stanza 1 (Quatrain)
The roses blush at dawn’s first light, [A]
Their petals soft as whispered song. [B]
The daisies dance in breezes bright, [A]
While ivy climbs the wall so long. [B]

Stanza 2 (Quatrain)
The tulips bow their golden heads, [C]
To bees that hum a drowsy tune. [D]
The sun spills gold on flower beds, [C]
And fades away too soon. [D]

Couplet
But deep below where roots entwine,
The earth holds secrets sweet as thyme.

Structure Breakdown:
Stanza 1 (Lines 1–4): Introduces the garden’s beauty at dawn (ABAB rhyme).

Stanza 2 (Lines 5–8): Extends the imagery to dusk (CDCD rhyme).

Couplet (Lines 9–10): Reveals the garden’s hidden mystery (EE rhyme).

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EE

Key Features:
Imagery: Flowers, bees, and light create a vivid scene.

Turn: The couplet shifts focus underground, hinting at deeper meaning.

Meter: Iambic tetrameter (4 beats per line, e.g., “The RO-ses BLUSH at DAWN’s first LIGHT”).

Sestet

A sestet is a 6-line stanza in poetry, often used to:

Resolve a theme (common in sonnets, like Petrarchan sestets).

Explore contrasts or shifts (volta/turn).

Follow varied rhyme schemes (e.g., CDECDE, EFEFGG, or free verse).

2 Simple Poems Using Sestets

1. “The Storm’s Gift”

The winds have stilled, the skies now clear, [E]
Yet puddles shine like broken glass. [F]
The air smells fresh—so sharp, so near— [E]
As if the storm left joy to pass. [F]
The trees, though bent, stand tall and grand, [G]
Their roots now drink the rain’s command. [G]

Features:

Rhyme: EFGEFG (clear/glass/near/pass/grand/command).

Volta (turn): Shift from storm’s chaos to renewal (Line 3).

Theme: Nature’s resilience.

2. “Questions for the Moon” (Free-Verse Sestet)
Moon, why do you hide half your face?
Do you tire of our endless nights?
Or is your glow a fleeting grace—
A wink to stars, then off like lights?
Perhaps you guard a silver sea,
Where tides obey your mystery.

Line Text Rhyme
1 Moon, why do you hide half your face? A
2 Do you tire of our endless nights? B
3 Or is your glow a fleeting grace— A
4 A wink to stars, then off like lights? B
5 Perhaps you guard a silver sea, C
6 Where tides obey your mystery. C

stanza – basically paragraphs of the poem. Sometimes, they contain one idea or are simply a few lines discussing a broader concept. They range in length from one line up to unlimited lines.

quatrain – (The four-line stanza) – 4 lines that rhymes

AAAA
AABB
ABAB
ABBA

tercet – set of three lines

Yet stranger things I’ve seen of love [E]
Who healed my wounds by wounding me [F]
The fire in me he quenched before; [G]

The life he gave was the end thereof [E]
the fire that slew eluded me. [F]
Once saved from love, love now burns more. [G]

Sestet – A stanza containing six lines.

Octave – 8 lines stanza.

Here’s the precise rhyme scheme of Giacomo Delentini’s “I’ve Seen Sunny Days”, analyzed line by line:

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFG EFG
(A hybrid of Shakespearean quatrains and Petrarchan tercets)

Line Text Rhyme
1 I’ve seen it rain on sunny days A
2 And seen the darkness flash with light B
3 And even lightning turn to haze, A
4 Yes, frozen snow turn warm and bright B
5 And sweet things taste of bitterness, C
6 And what is bitter taste most sweet, D
7 And enemies their love confess, C
8 And good, close friends no longer meet. D
9 Yet stranger things I’ve seen of love E
10 Who healed my wounds by wounding me. F
11 The fire in me he quenched before; G
12 The life he gave was the end thereof, E
13 The fire that slew eluded me. F
14 Once saved from love, love now burns more. G

Key Observations:
Octave (Lines 1–8): ABAB CDCD

Classic Shakespearean alternating rhymes, presenting paradoxical imagery.

Sestet (Lines 9–14): EFG EFG

Petrarchan-inspired interlocked tercets, deepening the theme of love’s contradictions.

No Couplet: The final lines (13–14) rhyme F/G with earlier lines (10–11), avoiding the Shakespearean GG couplet for a more nuanced resolution.

Volta (Turn): The shift at line 9 (“Yet stranger things…”) marks the transition from external paradoxes to love’s personal wounds.

Delentini’s Poem

Octave ABAB CDCD (Shakespearean)
Sestet Rhyme EFG EFG (Petrarchan)
Volta After Line 8 (Petrarchan)

What is the meter of the poem

Iamb: An iamb is a unit of rhythm in poetry, made up of two syllables. The first syllable is unstressed (soft) and the second syllable is stressed (hard). It’s like the rhythm of a heartbeat: da-DUM. Let’s try it out with the word “allow”—the stress falls on the second syllable, making it an iamb: a-LOW.

Take the word “around” for example. When you say it out loud, you’ll notice that the stress naturally falls on the second syllable: a-ROUND. That’s an iamb. Similarly, in the phrase “the CAT”, the stress falls on the second syllable, making it another example of an iamb.

Answer – iambic Pentameter:

“I’ve SEEN | it RAIN | on SUN | ny DAYS” (Line 1, 4 iambs).

“And SWEET | things TASTE | of BIT | ter NESS” (Line 5, 4 iambs).

Is there a volta in the poem?

Yet, line 9

What diction contributes to the poem?

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18

Stanzas:

A sonnet is a type of poem with a specific structure. While we don’t traditionally refer to the sections of a sonnet as “stanzas,” it is divided into distinct sections.  

Quatrains:

A quatrain is a stanza of four lines.  

Shakespearean sonnets are composed of three quatrains.
 
Therefore, there are three quatrains in Sonnet 18.  

ABAB
CDCD
EFEF
GG

Sestets:

A sestet is a stanza of six lines.  
Shakespearean sonnets do not have sestets.
Sonnet 18 has zero sestets.
Couplets:

A couplet is a stanza of two lines.  
Shakespearean sonnets end with a single couplet.  
Therefore, Sonnet 18 has one couplet.  
In summary:

Stanzas: We can say that the structure is divided into sections, rather than stanzas
Quatrains: 3
Sestets: 0
Couplets: 1

I realized that even through lacross was fun, I have sacrificed too much on hockey.

// this is the main clause:
I realized [object].

// this is a subordinate clause:
I realized [that even through lacross was fun, I have sacrificed too much on hockey].

within it is another subordinate clause:

that [even through lacross was fun], I have sacrificed too much on hockey

Therefore, it is

1 main clause, 2 subordinate clauses

Sentence Structure in detail

I realized [that…]. (main clause)

noun clause as object (subordinate clause) – that…I have sacrificed too much on hockey

adverbial clause of contrast (subordinate clause) – even though lacrosse was fun

topic: despair and turmoil

theme: Even in despair, there is always a glimmer of hope.

Hook (make theme into a question form)
:
Have you ever deep turmoil and despair, only to feel a source of growing strength?

thesis:

In ___(poem)___, the poet uses ___(device x)___ and ___(device y)___ to explore the theme of ___, showing ___.

PEEEL body paragraph

topic sentence (uses device x to emphasizes topic):

The poet uses ___device x___ to ___compare___ A to B, emphasizing ___ topic ___.

Evidence (find needed quote from poem of device x):

For example, the poet writes, “___quote___”.

Explanation (device x shows the theme of because)

The ___device___ shows the theme of __________ because __________use “word”___.

It also emphasizes the theme of _______________ because ______________ use “word” _____.

Evaluation (the effect of device x):

The effect of ___device ___ is ______. This effect exemplifies the theme of ________ because it _______________.

link
By using/Through this ______, the poet effectively conveys _______________. Furthermore, ______________.

Types of Imagery in Poetry:
Visual Imagery – Descriptions that appeal to the sense of sight.
Example: “A host of golden daffodils” (William Wordsworth).

Auditory Imagery – Descriptions that appeal to the sense of hearing.
Example: “The murmuring of innumerable bees” (Alfred Lord Tennyson).

Tactile Imagery – Descriptions that appeal to the sense of touch.
Example: “The rough bark of the ancient oak”.

Olfactory Imagery – Descriptions that appeal to the sense of smell.
Example: “The scent of ripe peaches on a summer breeze”.

Gustatory Imagery – Descriptions that appeal to the sense of taste.
Example: “The tang of lemon on her tongue”.

Kinesthetic Imagery – Descriptions that convey movement or physical tension.
Example: “Her feet pounded the pavement as she ran”.

Organic Imagery – Descriptions that evoke internal sensations, such as hunger, fatigue, or emotions.
Example: “A knot of dread tightened in her stomach”.

Why Are Images Important in Poetry?
Emotional Impact: Images help readers connect emotionally with the poem by making abstract ideas or feelings more tangible.

Vividness: They create a vivid, immersive experience, allowing readers to “see” or “feel” what the poet is describing.

Symbolism: Images often carry symbolic meanings, adding layers of interpretation to the poem.

Theme and Tone: They contribute to the overall theme, mood, or tone of the poem.

Example of Imagery in a Poem:
In Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”, the lines:
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep”
create a vivid visual image of a serene, mysterious forest, while also evoking a sense of contemplation and depth.

When analyzing a poem, identifying and interpreting the images can help you understand the poet’s intentions, the mood of the poem, and the deeper meanings behind the words.

Poem: “The Sun’s Embrace”
The sun tiptoed in at dawn,
With golden threads, she stitched the sky,
Her smile, a simmering cinnamon bloom,
To coax the sleepy earth awake.

She whispered to the frost-kissed grass,
“Unfurl your blades, let go your fears,
For I will stay like a mother’s hand,
To warm your trembling, tear-streaked face.”

And when the dusk drew shadows near,
She gathered up her weary light,
But left behind a lingering kiss—
A blush of roses on the night.

Topic:
nurturing relationships

Theme:
Nurturing relationships can positively transform anything.

PEEEL Poetry Analysis Essay

Thesis Statement:

thesis is a complex sentence. Uses prepositional phrase to start off.

It ends with a present participle as nonessential information.

Through personification and simile, the poem “The Sun’s Embrace” illustrates how nurturing relationships transforms vulnerability into strength, emphasizing the healing power of warmth and reassurance.

Topic Sentence 1:

underscore(v) – emphasize

The personification of the sun as a maternal figure underscores the theme of nurturing care.

Evidence:

The sun “whispered to the frost-kissed grass” and vows to “stay like a mother’s hand.”

Explanation (use one ‘quote’ word):

explain the quote directly using complex sentence:

By attributing human actions such as whispering and comforting, the sun becomes a symbol of maternal tenderness.

describes the noun using nonessential information:

The frost-kissed grass, initially fragile and “trembling,” embodies vulnerability, which the sun addresses with gentle encouragement.

Evaluation: (uses definition of device)

note: the definition of a personification is to humanize unhuman things. It gives them human-like qualities. So you’ll need to use this definition in your verbs (humanize):

This personification effectively humanizes nature, making the abstract concept of care tangible.

Link:

Thus, the sun’s nurturing actions reinforce the theme that empathy can dissolve fear.

Topic Sentence 2:
The simile comparing the sun’s presence to a “mother’s hand” highlights steadfast support.

Evidence:
The line “I will stay like a mother’s hand” directly links the sun’s reliability to a parent’s unwavering touch.

Explanation (use one ‘quote’ word):
A mother’s hand symbolizes safety and enduring love; by extension, the sun’s light becomes a promise of stability. This comforts the “tear-streaked” Earth, transforming its anxiety into resilience.

Evaluation: (uses definition of the device)

note: the definition of a simile is that is uses ‘like/as’ to compare two unlike things. It bridges the two unlike things. So you can use ‘bridge’:

The simile bridges natural phenomena and human emotion, deepening the reader’s emotional connection.

Link: This comparison stresses that true compassion is both gentle and unyielding.

Mr Slonim emphasizes that for imageries we should talk about how the “tone or emotions linked to the image”.

Point 3: Imagery of transition from dawn to dusk mirrors the cycle of reassurance.

Evidence: The sun “tiptoed in at dawn” and later “gathered up her weary light” at dusk, leaving a “blush of roses on the night.”

Explanation (use one ‘quote’ word): The sun’s journey parallels a caregiver’s daily devotion—quietly persistent, even as darkness looms. The “blush of roses” symbolizes lingering hope, suggesting that kindness leaves lasting impressions.

Evaluation: The cyclical imagery reinforces the idea that compassion is renewable, not fleeting.

Link: Ultimately, the poem asserts that even transient gestures can instill enduring strength.

Conclusion: By weaving personification, simile, and cyclical imagery, the poem portrays compassion as a force that tenderly converts fragility into fortitude. The sun’s nurturing role becomes a universal metaphor for how empathy—expressed through patience and presence—can heal and uplift.

Poem: “The Storm Within”
The sky is a canvas, painted gray,
A storm brews, like a lion at play.
The wind howls, a wolf on the prowl,
While raindrops fall, a sorrowful growl.

The heart is an ocean, deep and wide,
Its waves crash, with nowhere to hide.
Yet in its depths, a calm does gleam,
A quiet hope, like a distant dream.

Topic and Theme
Topic: chaos and turmoil

Theme: Even in the midst of chaos and pain, there is always a glimmer of hope and inner strength.

PEEEL Poetry Analysis Essay

Hook (make the theme into a question form)
Have you ever felt like a storm was raging inside you, tearing apart your calm, only to discover a quiet strength waiting to emerge?

Thesis (which literary device[s] are used to show/explore the theme?)
In “The Storm Within,” the poet uses a metaphor (the heart as an ocean) and a simile (the storm like a lion at play) to explore the theme of emotional turmoil and resilience, showing how even in chaos, hope and strength can be found.

If simile, metaphor use words such as ‘compare’ to explain the two entities’ properties.

If personification, you can use:

• Epitomize – be a perfect example of
• embody – To represent a quality, idea, or concept in human form.
• Characterize – To describe or represent the qualities or features of something in a human-like way.

For imagery, it’s better to talk about tone or emotions linked to the image.

In our case, it is a simile:

Topic Sentence 1:

The poet uses a simile to compare the storm to a lion, emphasizing the chaos and unpredictability of emotional struggles.

Evidence: For example, the poet writes, “A storm brews, like a lion at play.”

Explanation (use one ‘quote’ word):

The simile shows the theme of emotional turmoil because it compares the storm to a lion, suggesting wildness and unpredictability. It also emphasizes the theme of inner conflict because the image of a lion “at play” implies both danger and a lack of control.

Evaluation: The effect of the device is vivid and striking, creating a strong visual image of the storm’s intensity. This effect exemplifies the theme of chaos and struggle because it captures the overwhelming nature of emotional pain. Moreover, it sets the stage for the contrast between chaos and calm later in the poem.

Link: Through this simile, the poet effectively conveys the turbulence of the storm, mirroring the emotional struggles within the heart.

Topic Sentence 2:
The poet uses a metaphor to compare the heart to an ocean, highlighting its depth, resilience, and capacity for hope.

Evidence: For instance, the poet writes, “The heart is an ocean, deep and wide,” and later, “Yet in its depths, a calm does gleam.”

Explanation (use one ‘quote’ word): The metaphor shows the theme of resilience because it portrays the heart as an ocean, suggesting vastness and the ability to withstand storms. It also emphasizes the theme of hope because the “calm” in the ocean’s depths symbolizes inner peace and strength, even during difficult times.

Evaluation: The effect of the device is powerful and evocative, creating a sense of depth and complexity. This effect exemplifies the theme of hope and strength because it shows that even in the midst of turmoil, there is a quiet, enduring resilience. Moreover, it invites the reader to reflect on their own capacity for hope and healing.

Link: By using this metaphor, the poet transforms the heart into a symbol of resilience, reinforcing the poem’s message of finding calm within chaos.

Conclusion

In “The Storm Within,” the poet masterfully uses a simile and a metaphor to explore the dual nature of emotional struggles—chaos and resilience. The storm, compared to a lion, represents the intensity of pain, while the heart, likened to an ocean, symbolizes the depth of inner strength and hope. Together, these devices highlight the poem’s central theme: even in the darkest storms, there is always a glimmer of light within us.

simile: Jason is as smart as Einstein

Jason & Einstein:

• intelligent
• bright
• great mind
• studious
• exceptional

Both Jason and Einstein are exceptionally intelligent. This suggests that Jason is an extremely bright person because he is being compared to Einstein, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest minds in history.

simile: My appetite is like a cauldron

appetite & cauldron:

• bottomless
• insatiable
• large quantities
• vast
• never-ending

Both my appetite and a cauldron are intense and seemingly bottomless. This suggests my appetite is overwhelming and insatiable because a cauldron is often associated with large quantities and constant activity, implying that my hunger is vast and never-ending.

simile: The dancer floated like a butterfly

Both the dancer and a butterfly are graceful and light. This suggests the dancer is elegant and effortless in movement because a butterfly is known for its delicate, airy flight, implying that the dancer moves with similar beauty and ease.

Practice – Write 10 Simile stems using method shown above.

metaphor: “The dancer was a bee.”

dancer & bee:

• energy
• precision
• purpose
• graceful
• purpose

The dancer is a metaphor for a bee because they both move with energy, precision, and purpose. Consequently, the metaphor highlights how the dancer’s movements are not only graceful but also purposeful and industrious, much like a bee’s focused and tireless work.