[header] How to write an italian sonnet [title] Learn the basic structure of an italian sonnet. [step] An italian sonnet is 14 lines long with 10 syllables per line. Italian sonnets are written in iambic pentameter and consist of two parts : [substeps] Octave: a group of eight lines sestet: a group of six lines. 
[title] Understand iambic pentameter. [step] The " meter " in " pentameter " refers to the rhythm of sets of two to three syllables in a line of poetry.