Miscellany of Sonnets
The word Sonnet is from the Italian language. It translates into English as 'little song'. Beyond that, coming up with definitions and rules that embrace the many different Sonnet variations is more...
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The Couplet Sonnet As the name suggests this variation is comprised solely of rhyming couplets. The rhyme scheme is self apparent. There is no discernable volta, but that can be left to the writer's...
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The Spenserian Sonnet Like the Shakespearean Sonnet this variation has 3 quatrains and a couplet. However its rhyme scheme is interlocked, as in the Keats Sonnet. The volta occurs after the second...
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The Triolet Sonnet Another hybrid of existing forms, and another that incorporates repeated lines. In this case the whole line need not be repeated; just repeating the rhyme word itself is perfectly...
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Bruce, thank you for this outstanding layout of sonnet forms. i for one will dabble in some new styles in this years shower. I appreciate your support with this challenge, one again thank you for this...
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The Kyrielle Sonnet Like the Triolet, the Kyrielle incorporates repeated lines, phrases, or just end rhymes. In this case the repeats are utilised as refrains. The Kyrielle is written in quatrains,...
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The Sestina Sonnet The Sestina is a form that repeats end words in a prescribed pattern. It does not rhyme. By repeating the end word of the first stanza throughout the following stanzas we can...
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The Sonnetina This form is a shortened version of the Sonnet. It contains just 10 lines, and is comprised of two quatrains and a couplet. The couplet can be placed either after the two quatrains, or...
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The Tailed Sonnet Also known as the Caudated Sonnet. This Sonnet variation was developed by John Milton in the 17th century based on Italian models. It has an Italian Octave, a Sestet, and two...
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The Quatern Sonnet The Quatern is composed of four quatrains, where the first line becomes a refrain that is repeated as the 2nd line of the 2nd quatrain, 3rd line of the 3rd quatrain, and final line...
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The Rime Royal Sonnet The Rime Royal was probably invented by Geoffrey Chaucer (author of The Canterbury Tales), but its name derives from being popularised by King James I. It is a stanza of 7 lines,...
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The Blues Sonnet Derived from the African-American tradition of lament this variation is comprised of four triplets and a couplet. The unique feature of this variation is its repetition of rhyme words...
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The Ballad Sonnet The Ballad stanza is a quatrain composed of alternating lines of tetrameter and trimeter (8 and 6 syllables, respectively). It can have various rhyme schemes: a,b,a,b, or a,b,a,c, or...
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Ah, Bruce. We'll have to start calling you, 'Bruce, the Wise'. Ron Jones asked me yesterday if I'd ever attempted one. Since he was my first poet-friend to buy my book, I'm kinda fond of him....
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For those whose interest in form writing has been sparked I'm happy to recommend the following books for further reading: * The Penguin Book of the Sonnet ~ Phillis Levin (editor) - Has a vast...
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