Final answer:
It is false that Shakespeare wrote about 60 sonnets; he actually penned 154 sonnets with a distinctive A B A B, C D C D, E F E F, G G rhyme scheme and a structure that includes a volta or a thematic turn.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Shakespeare wrote about 60 sonnets is false. In fact, William Shakespeare is known to have written 154 sonnets. These sonnets are structured in such a way that they are composed of an octave and a sestet, following a specific rhyme scheme. In a Shakespearian sonnet, the rhyme scheme is typically A B A B, C D C D, E F E F, G G, and it contains a volta, or a turn in thought, which shifts the mood or tone of the poem.
Shakespeare's sonnets are a testament to his mastery of the English language and are an important part of English literature. They were first published in a quarto in 1609, and though they exhibit a formal rigidity in terms of structure and meter, they also offer Shakespeare's emotive language and thought-provoking themes, often revolving around love, beauty, politics, and mortality.