* 14 lines
* Iambic pentameter: Each line has 10 syllables, alternating unstressed and stressed beats.
* Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
Beyond its form, the poem also exhibits elements common to Shakespearean sonnets:
* Turn: The poem's turn (or volta) occurs in the third quatrain, marking a shift in tone or perspective. In this case, the speaker moves from lamenting the loss of a beloved to finding solace in the "beautiful and simple" brown penny.
* Theme of love and loss: The poem explores themes of lost love and finding beauty in unexpected places.
While technically a Shakespearean sonnet, "The Brown Penny" differs slightly in its subject matter. It doesn't focus on the traditional love themes typically found in sonnets. Instead, it reflects on the speaker's grief and the unexpected comfort found in a mundane object. This makes it a unique example of a sonnet that explores more introspective and philosophical themes.