Shakespeare's Sonnet Form

Shakespeare’s sonnets are written predominantly in a meter called iambic pentameter, a rhyme scheme in which each sonnet line consists of ten syllables. The syllables are divided into five pairs called iambs or iambic feet. An iamb is a metrical unit made up of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable. 

It has a strict rhyme scheme - ABAB/ CDCD/ EFEF/ GG (There are four distinct sections)

DaDUM / DaDUM / DaDUM / DaDUM / DaDUM


Sonnet Structure

There are fourteen lines in a Shakespearean sonnet. 

The first twelve lines are divided into three quatrains with four lines each. 

Each quatrain should progress the poem as follows:

1. First quatrain: This should establish the subject of the sonnet.
   Number of lines: 4. Rhyme Scheme: ABAB
   
2. Second quatrain: This should develop the sonnet’s theme.
   Number of lines: 4. Rhyme Scheme: CDCD
   
3. Third quatrain: This should round off the sonnet’s theme.
   Number of lines: 4. Rhyme Scheme: EFEF
   
4. Fourth quatrain: This should act as a conclusion to the sonnet.
   Number of lines: 2. Rhyme Scheme: GG

The rhyme scheme of the first three quatrains is abab cdcd efef. 

The couplet at the end has the rhyme scheme gg. 



(http://www.shakespeare-online.com/sonnets/sonnetstyle.html)