How many lines are in a typical Shakespearean sonnet?

How many lines are in a typical Shakespearean sonnet?

• A. 10
• B. 12
• C. 16
• D. 14

Answer: (D)

Shakespearean sonnets are fourteen lines long. They use three four-line units (quatrains) plus a final two-line unit (couplet), which adds up to 3×4 + 2 = 14 lines. The rhythm is usually iambic pentameter, but the question focuses on line count, which is why fourteen lines is the standard length. The other numbers would not fit the familiar three-quatrain-plus-couplet structure.

Shakespearean sonnets are fourteen lines long. They use three four-line units (quatrains) plus a final two-line unit (couplet), which adds up to 3×4 + 2 = 14 lines. The rhythm is usually iambic pentameter, but the question focuses on line count, which is why fourteen lines is the standard length. The other numbers would not fit the familiar three-quatrain-plus-couplet structure.