Heroic Sonnet, definition and example

Heroic Sonnet

Definition & Example

This is my first out of what I hope will be many blog posts about not only the poems I create but a little information for those looking for answers. What is a Heroic Sonnet??? How do you even begin to write one??? Well let me tell you, yes they are not the typical easy poetry format, but I personally love this form!

A heroic sonnet is a poem written with 210 lines of poetry. Not only is it long but it is made up of 15 normal sonnets, usually in iambic pentameter form. Now if you're not sure what iambic pentameter is, I’ll explain it. Iambic pentameter is basically 10 syllables on each line. Or the other way you can put it is the iamb stand for foot, and it consists of one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. Pent means five, so one line of iambic pentameter consists of five iambs. I don't know about you but I personally find the 10 syllables per line definition easier to follow and understand. (daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM) is the beat you want on each line.

For example:

Doth cre/ate in/ a blink/ a mas/ter's eye

(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)

Forms plac/es that/only/moments/ago

(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)

This is two lines from my first Heroic Sonnet I ever wrote. Each line has 10 syllables and so follows the iambic pentameter form. Not all are written this way but the majority are.

How do you write a heroic sonnet? There is a major key to writing this form that you must remember. You have 15 sonnets to write, but you MUST write Sonnet 15 first if you want your poem to flow and make sense. You see with a heroic sonnet you're not just writing 15 sonnets and 210 lines of poetry. You have guidelines you have to follow as with any poetry from. Line one in sonnet 15 will be line one is sonnet 1. Line two in sonnet 15 will be line one in sonnet 2. Line three in sonnet 15 will be line one in sonnet 3, and so it continues on tell sonnet 14. A sonnet is a 14 line poem, and line fourteen in sonnet 1 will be line one in sonnet 2. Line fourteen in sonnet 2 will be line one in sonnet 3 and it goes on from there. You also want to make sure that the last line in sonnet 14 is the first line of sonnet 1. So it can be quite confusing and I have placed my heroic sonnet example below in case you did not follow this. A heroic sonnet is also typically written with a rhyme scheme similar to this: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

For example:

A-Doth create in a blink a master's eye

B-Forms places that only moments ago

A-Could not yet exist, but now we do spy

B-Yet moments ago we did choose to roe

C-To roe upon this master mind of mine

D-We seem to find that rhythm does not end

C-We shall find no end to a twinkling time

D-That does seem to want and will wait to bend

E-A creation that only I command

F-To my tongue the words will try to make sound

E-Hand me a pen for the words are unplanned

F-To fly off my pen to seek to be crowned

G-Create in the mist an image of gold

G-Gold painted not for the eyes to behold

I hope this has helped you understand a little about a heroic sonnet and how one is written. I personally really enjoyed not only writing this blog post but creating the heroic sonnet. I plan on writing many more.

Here is my Heroic Sonnet Example:

A Writer’s Sonnet

Doth create in a blink a master's eye

Forms places that only moments ago

Could not yet exist, but now we do spy

Yet moments ago we did choose to roe

To roe upon this master mind of mine

We seem to find that rhythm does not end

We shall find no end to a twinkling time

That does seem to want and will wait to bend

A creation that only I command

To my tongue the words will try to make sound

Hand me a pen for the words are unplanned

To fly off my pen to seek to be crowned

Create in the mist an image of gold

Gold painted not for the eyes to behold

Gold painted not for the eyes to behold

I did create that in this world of mine

For you see among us the dark takes hold

Takes hold among the hearts and minds of swine

The swine of man who only likes to spy

They try to create that world of their own

Although here I sit choosing the winds cry

Choosing those that will sit upon that throne

So tall so small they may or may not be

When counting down the seconds are soon gone

Seconds that did not have to go pay that fee

As they soon come to know they are all pawns

They masquerade around acting the part

So beautiful created not with dye

So beautiful created not with dye

I find fiery breath of the dragon strong

Yet greater I do find the gift to try

Try and  succeed in creating this song

For those among the crowd do watch me dance

Laughing and scorning at my chosen speed

Wait, you there do you not see this romance

That in time builds and with speed might just bleed

How could you, know that in my hidden mind

There sits a place upon that edge a rest

Worlds that hidden may or may not be kind

Where in that place shall that phoenix take nest

You try to capture the phoenix to hold

My words they seem to create something bold

My words they seem to create something bold

Hidden not, they flow above they create

Something you might just be able to hold

Or will you choose to close  to lock a gate

Oh how far do the wild thoughts do roam

Aboad, about inside the wild blooms

Upon this stoney path you see a gnome

That gnome hidden and whose name seem to loom

To touch my pen the ink to the blank sheets

Although the words like magic they will seem

Once born  alive they come as words like sweets

To melt and mix to build the needed cream

I create words of cream to make the toon

Something that I shall spin upon the moon

Something that I shall spin upon the moon

Seems to me nothing more than a odd dream

Yet here I do write a tale of a  loon

That you might just dance to upon that stream

So seeking that adventure in the mist

I choose to take not the headed advice

Yet here I do choose those who might be kissed

Upon that hidden mask of words with spice

Create those hidden places among things

Mysteries when seen seem to be untold

The story of that so full of those rings

That echo loud and far to those few sold

Finding I choose the story of that tusk

As the fairy doth dance into the dusk

As the fairy doth dance into the dusk

I laugh to create the forest within

The forest that the fairy full of lusk

Created to hide away his great sin

To laugh inside I fly upon the words

I use the words to melt and mix my spell

For there is no need for those lies and cords

That you will tie around the gated well

Seeking only entertainment they come

Seeking entertainment they do not count

Counting down those echoes that silent drum

That only become the stories account

Sometimes I have to wonder on that tune

That I create a story of a loon

that I create a story of a loon

Or could it be a story for a soul

You see the loon is only in the moon

Yet the soul does delight all in the goal

I sit here, I create to my content

I don't stop to say aloud hidden words

I make sure to record that which is spent

Upon the moon sits and sings a blue bird

I find so many in this maze of mind

here it is written down upon the page

No longer we find it is intertwined

With the words that I did write for that wage

Then once again the fairy is a lusk

Yet there in the mist is the stories tusk

Yet there in the mist is the stories tusk

There full of the hidden secrets of men

The men and fairies who are full of lusk

They do hide them away here in the glen

Here they are hidden away in this place

A place so full of both the spies and lords

We shall find the women adorned with lace

Yet they so clueless to the hidden cords

As here men or faires that walk about

Hiding the truth or them in your plain sight

Yet here I do create a stage of doubt

As men of faires care not for the right

Looking I find I can't be overthrown

Oh wait, I find you sit upon that throne

Oh wait I find you sit upon that throne

You try to create, rule that which is mine

Waiting and watching as you take the zone

Creating something of your own design

Waiting I watch you as you take control

You the character seems the master now

You do dance away you do take your scroll

Down and about you do start to bestow

From afar you do grow and develop

Yet  soon do I learn I do not create

You leap out over land to envelop

Now only a king can control your fate

Fighting to create I find in your eye

So high, so mighty  you feel you might fly

So high, so mighty  you feel you might fly

As you the master of your mighty fight

Seem to be in the line of that dark sky

You seem to think your fate is not a knight

You choose to dare and to defy my words

Transforming my words to air it doth seem

You reason with the story not as a byrd

You discover that you do like that stream

You follow that twisted path to the north

You go not alone but so full of those lies

The lies and spies of fairies that do go forth

Out ,about your followed by silent cries

You wrote a path yet if  you could of known

Yet you do not know that I in the zone

Yet you do not know that I in the zone

Can still control this path if I so choose

So don't you dare try to cry or to moan

You do choose to ignore those hidden clues

Oh dear character of my heart, my soul

You did leap, bound farther than any before

Although far in mystery here is the troll

That you did not see upon your dark shore

As here I sit counting down those long paths

That will lead you to my desired one

For inside I do fight that wicked  wrath

So free and loved you do think you have won

After a battle fought I stand nearby

Can create the path that causes you to die

Can create the path that causes you to die

Quietly I do watch you be so mighty

Totally unaware you feel so high

You do sit, you laugh feeling almighty

Yet I the writer is spinning this tale

You see you did catch me when unaware

Although I did figure out that it was frail

It that was my idea I’m  in despair

As those hidden small words did launch so far

Off this silk pen and down this blank white page

They did land to create something bizarre

Hidden and unknown they did upstage

That plan I had is now in a debate

With my passion and love doth I create

With my passion and love doth I create

A character that of his own design

who was a knight did design his own fate

Now on that throne you're all but intertwined

The writer had believed to know it all

As the seconds fled upon a lost thought

To find that only you who was so tall

You could conquer all that was so distraught

There in that place you were so far of path

Following your mind fate did lead you to

That path I had fought with a writer's wrath

Here in this end we sit long overdue

I the writer now do open that gate

My world so full of stories that doth await

My world full of stories that doth await

It is full of those things only in dreams

Things created by those who don't debate

Between that which is created by schemes

If only I the writer had only known

That a character of such strong design

Will not be made to be only outgrown

But shall develop into that which will shine

To shine like this brave character of mine

Is something we all seem to all but lose

When we the writer choose to cry or whine

We then take a risk at being confused

Yet here I chose to choose and then apply

Doth create in a blink a master's eye

Doth create in a blink a master's eye

Gold painted not for the eyes to behold

So beautiful created not with dye

My words they seem to create something bold

Something that I shall spin upon the moon

As the fairy doth dance into the dusk

that I create a story of a loon

Yet there in the mist is the stories tusk

Oh wait, I find you sit upon that throne

So high, so mighty  you feel you might fly

Yet you do not know that I in the zone

Can create the path that causes you to die

With my passion and love doth I create

My world full of stories that doth await

-Written by: Emma J. Willden

© April 9, 2016 - Emma Joy Willden