Sonnet

A poetic form of 14 lines which was very popular in the Renaissance. Invented at the Sicilian court (c.1250) and developed by Francesco Petrarca, it came to England in the 16th century thanks to the translations by Wyatt and others. While the Italian form contains 2 quartets and 3 tercets, the English (or "Shakespearean") sonnet has 3 quartets and a couplet.