Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A sonnet is a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and meter, traditionally associated with themes of love. It typically consists of three quatrains (four-line stanzas) followed by a concluding couplet (two-line stanza).
Related terms
Petrarchan Sonnet: Also known as an Italian sonnet, it follows an ABBAABBA CDECDE rhyme scheme and often explores themes related to unrequited love.
Shakespearean Sonnet: Also called an English sonnet, it follows an ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme and commonly addresses themes such as love, beauty, time, and mortality.
The volta refers to the shift or turn in thought that occurs between different sections of the sonnet, often signaling a change in tone or perspective.