Explore the Craft of Writing Poetry The Sonnet Sonnet Comparison Chart French Verse
The Alternating Sonnet is one of the French adaptations of the sonnet. It employs alternating quatrains and tercets. Sonnet
The elements of the Alternating Sonnet are:
the quatorzain is made up of alternating tercets and quatrains.
rhymed, rhyme scheme abba ccd abba ede or ccd abba ede abba or same envelope rhymed quatrains alternating with rhymed tercets at the poet's discretion.
pivot or volta at L8, L11 or L12.
Alternating Sonnet by Jan Haag