What is a Sonnet?
Sonnet Refresh: Classic Structure, Modern Expression
Rosalind Fairfax
4/30/20252 min read
What is a Sonnet?
Classic structure, infinite possibilities.
Ever wondered why some poems just hit different? Why certain arrangements of words have survived centuries of cultural shifts, technological revolutions, and countless TikTok trends? Meet the sonnet: poetry's OG power player.
The 14-Line Wonder
At its core, a sonnet is a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and rhythm. That's it. Fourteen lines. But those fourteen lines? They're practically magic.
Think of sonnets as the original tweet—except instead of 280 characters, you get 14 lines to express something profound. They're concise enough to hold your attention but complex enough to blow your mind.
The Beat Goes On
Sonnets typically follow a rhythm called iambic pentameter. Sounds fancy, but it's actually the most natural speech pattern in English.
da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM
Like that. Five beats per line. It's the same rhythm as:
"I want to order large supreme pizza"
"The way she looks at me just makes me melt"
"I should have finished all my work last night"
Your heart beats in iambs. You speak in iambs. Sonnets just formalize what's already in our blood.
Types of Sonnets: The Big Three
The Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet
Named after Francesco Petrarca, this OG sonnet has:
An octave (8 lines) that presents a problem/situation
A sestet (6 lines) that offers a resolution
A turn or "volta" between them that shifts the perspective
The Shakespearean (English) Sonnet
Yes, that guy wrote a lot of them, but he didn't invent the form:
Three quatrains (4-line stanzas)
One concluding couplet (2 lines)
Often the couplet delivers the punchline or twist
The Spenserian Sonnet
Edmund Spenser's contribution:
Links each quatrain with interlocking rhymes
Creates a flowing, connected feel
Still ends with that mic-drop couplet
Why Should We Care About Sonnets?
They're Everywhere
From hip-hop to pop culture, the sonnet's DNA is all over modern art. That satisfying feeling when a verse concludes? That's sonnet structure talking.
They're Democratic
Sonnets aren't just for dusty academics. They're for anyone who's ever felt something deeply and wanted to express it within boundaries. The constraints actually fuel creativity—like how basketball wouldn't be basketball without the hoop.
They're Timeless
Sonnets have been used to discuss everything from unrequited love to racial injustice, political revolution to personal transformation. The form remains relevant because it's infinitely adaptable.
Modern Sonnet Masters
Sonnets aren't just historical artifacts. Contemporary poets are doing incredible things with the form:
Terrance Hayes' "American Sonnet for My Past and Future Assassin" series
Patricia Smith's powerful, voice-driven sonnets
Bernadette Mayer's experimental takes
Try It Yourself
Want to write a sonnet? Here's your starter pack:
Pick something that moves you – anger, love, confusion, wonder
Aim for 14 lines
Try for 10 syllables per line
Rhyme if you want, or don't
Include a turn or shift somewhere
The beauty of sonnets today is that you can honor the tradition while breaking whatever rules don't serve your expression.
The Takeaway
Sonnets demonstrate how creativity thrives within structure. They remind us that some feelings are so universal that a 700-year-old poetic form can still be the perfect vehicle for expressing them.
So next time you're scrolling through social media and see a perfectly crafted statement that makes you pause, remember: that satisfaction you feel has sonnet energy. The perfect balance of constraint and freedom. Classic words. Modern vibes.
This post is part of Theatrefinery's ongoing exploration of classic literary forms in contemporary context. Visit theatrefinery.com for more content that bridges traditional and modern expression.