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Final answer:
A sonnet is defined as a rhyming poem consisting of fourteen lines, traditionally structured with a specific rhyme scheme. The most common types are the Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets, each having distinct formats. Sonnets typically explore themes of love and feature a crucial element known as the volta, or turn in thought.
Explanation:
Defining a Sonnet
A sonnet is best defined as a rhyming poem of fourteen lines, which has a structured rhyme scheme and often explores themes such as love. This poetic form has its roots in the Italian Renaissance, where it was standardized as having fourteen lines by the 13th century. The two most popular types of sonnets are the Petrarchan (or Italian) and the Shakespearean (or English) sonnet.
Structure of Sonnets
- The Petrarchan sonnet typically consists of an octave (eight lines) following the rhyme scheme abbaabba and a sestet (six lines) which may vary in rhyme.
- The Shakespearean sonnet, on the other hand, contains three quatrains (four lines each) with a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef and concludes with a couplet (two rhyming lines).
In both forms, the sonnet may also contain a volta, or turn in thought, which is a key feature that transitions the theme or argument of the poem.
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