Sonnet Charts
Petrarchan or Italian Sonnet
Line number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
End Sound
A
B
B
A
A
B
B
A
Form
Quatrain 1: verse
paragraph of 4 lines,
followed by
Quatrain 2: verse
paragraph of 4 lines
This octave (lines 1-8)
establishes complication
(problem, issue, question)
Turn away from/against complication established in
octave occurs between lines 8 and 9
9
10
11
12
13
14
C
D
E
C
D
E
Sestet: final 6 lines
Resolution: responds to
complication
Shakespearean Sonnet
Line number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
End Sound
A
B
A
B
C
D
C
D
E
F
E
F
G
G
Form
Quatrain 1: verse
paragraph of 4 lines,
followed by
Quatrain 2: verse
paragraph of 4 lines,
followed by,
Quatrain 3: verse
paragraph of 4 lines
Three quatrains establish
the complication
(problem/issue/question).
Each quatrain typically
represents a variation
upon or elaboration of the
complication
Turn away from/against complication established in
quatrains occurs between lines 12 and 13
Resolution: responds to
Couplet: 2 lines rhymed
complication