Final answer:
Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets, structured with a unique rhyme scheme and iambic pentameter, often exploring themes such as love and mortality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout his illustrious career, William Shakespeare penned a grand total of 154 sonnets. These elaborate poems were constructed in iambic pentameter and with a distinctive rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg, which is characteristic of the Shakespearian sonnet. This sonnet typically comprises three quatrains (a grouping of four lines) followed by a concluding couplet (two lines). Often, these sonnets explored themes of love, beauty, politics, and mortality. The ability to articulate profound emotions and thoughts within the rigorous structural confines of the sonnet form showcases Shakespeare's exceptional lyrical prowess. His collection of sonnets was first published in 1609, offering a rich tapestry of emotional depth and poetic mastery that continues to captivate readers and scholars alike.