English Sonnet: The English (or Shakespearean) Sonnet has a different purpose. A problem is posed in the first four-line stanza, is further developed in another four-line stanza, then is reconsidered or answered tentatively in the next four-line stanza, and finally is answered definitively in a final couplet.
| Section / Lines | Syllables Per LIne | Rhyme Scheme (pattern) |
| Stanza 1 / four lines | 10 syllables per line | abab |
| Stanza 2 / four lines | 10 syllables per line | cdcd |
| Stanza 3 / four lines | 10 syllables per line | efef |
| Couplet / two lines | 10 syllables per line | gg |
This is the format we will use in our projects.
It is best to think of this poem as a series of smaller poems relating to the same topic with a concluding couplet at the end.
Many things can be naturally divided into three... from a three course meal to the lifespan of mankind. These types of subjects are easiest to complete.