- A type of lyrical poem, which originates from the word sonnetto, meaning little song/sound in Italian.
- Usually describe contrasting characters, events, beliefs or emotions; and used to explore these subjects.
- Shakespearean sonnets: 14 lines, specific rhyming pattern a-b-a-b / c-d-c-d / e-f-e-f / g-g (iambic pentameter), last two lines = rhyming couplet.
