Write a space-themed sonnet in the style of William Shakespeare.

The Rules

Sonnets will be graded based on their adherence to the traditional construction of a Shakespearean sonnet. The 6-line size and rhyme scheme is required; non-rhyming entries will be disqualified. How well you fit the other requirements into your work will boost the quality of your entry. Here is an overview of how to construct a sonnet:

Structure: The sonnet is composed of three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final rhyming couplet (two-line stanza).

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This means the first and third lines of each quatrain rhyme with each other, and the second and fourth lines of each quatrain rhyme with each other. The final two lines rhyme with each other.

Meter: The sonnet should be written in iambic pentameter. An iamb is a metrical foot consisting of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable (da-DUM). "Penta" means five, so iambic pentameter means there are five iambs per line, for a total of ten syllables (da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM).

Content: The sonnet often follows a logical progression. The three quatrains typically present a problem, question, or idea, and the final couplet provides a resolution, summary, or a new, often surprising, perspective.

Scoring

Participating in this competition award points towards the overall event following the scoring breakdown below.

1st place: 6 points 2nd place: 5 points 3rd place: 4 points 4th place: 3 points 5th place: 2 points Participation: 1 point