Shakespeare’s Sonnets:
The first sonnets were called the “Petrarchan Sonnets” from the 13th Century.
Sonnet is Italian for “little song”.
These sonnets are split into octave and sextant. Making 14 lines
Shakespeare’s Sonnets are different and English.
It still has the 14 lines but has a couplet.

The Structure:
14 lines
Iambic Pentameter
Three Quatrains and one couplet
Its AB AB CD CD EF EF GG.

Iambic Pentameter:
Line of five beats
Each with two syllables
XX/XX/XX/XX/XX/
XX= unstressed
/=stressed

Rhymes:
Ear Rhymes and Eye Rhymes
Ear- they don’t look but sound like rhymes
Eye- you can tell it’s a rhyme rather than having to listen

Exceptions
not full sentences
not always Iambic Pentameter

Themes:
Love- 2 people fall in love
Death- 2 types, living and dead
writing
failure- one victorious one failure
 envy
lust