There are two main types of sonnets:
* Shakespearean (or English) sonnet: This sonnet follows the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. It typically has three quatrains (four-line stanzas) followed by a final couplet (two-line stanza).
* Italian (or Petrarchan) sonnet: This sonnet follows the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA CDECDE or ABBAABBA CDCDCD. It consists of an octave (eight lines) followed by a sestet (six lines).
Both types of sonnets are characterized by their strict structure and often explore themes of love, beauty, and mortality.