1. Petrarchan Sonnet:
- Originated by the Italian poet Petrarch.
- Consists of 14 lines, divided into two stanzas: an eight-line octave and a six-line sestet.
- Rhyme scheme: ABBA ABBA CDCDCD or CDECDE.
2. Shakespearean Sonnet:
- Developed by William Shakespeare and widely used in English literature.
- Consists of 14 lines, divided into four stanzas: three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final couplet (two-line stanza).
- Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
3. Spenserian Sonnet:
- Developed by Edmund Spenser, a contemporary of Shakespeare.
- Consists of 14 lines, divided into three quatrains and a final couplet.
- Rhyme scheme: ABAB BCBC CDCD EE.
4. Miltonic Sonnet:
- Introduced by John Milton, known for his epic poem "Paradise Lost."
- Consists of 14 lines, written in iambic pentameter (a poetic meter consisting of ten syllables per line).
- Rhyme scheme: ABBA ABBA CDECDE.
These rhyme schemes are not strict rules, and some sonnets may deviate slightly. However, the sonnet form typically maintains its core structure and adherence to a consistent rhyme pattern.