The Italian or

Petrarchan Sonnet
Writing of Poetry Mini-lesson
#5
Origin of the Italian
Sonnet
• Sonnet comes from the Italian word
“sonetto” which means “little song.”
• Francesco Petrarca, a 13th century
Italian Renaissance poet, created
the 1st form of sonnets.
• The Italian sonnet is also called
Petrarchan
• His “Il Canzoniere” inspired English
writers to adopt this style of writing.
• He taught Sir Thomas Wyatt, a
famous English sonneteer, the form.
• Italian sonnets are full of love and
passion.
 The Inspiration
• Italian Renaissance: a period of
rebirth where classical art,
literature, architecture and
learning.
• Women are seen as unattainable
and virtuous beauties.
• Platonic love (friendly or
unrequited love from Plato’s
philosophy of three different
loves)
• Love and passion were big
themes and inspiration for art.
• Petrarca fell in love with Laura
who did not requite his feelings;
discussed his love for her.
 Structure of the Italian
Sonnet
• 14 line poem
• Divided into two stanzas
• 1st stanza is an octave (a
stanza of 8 lines)
• Octave rhyme scheme:
ABBAABBA
• 2nd stanza is a sestet (a
stanza of 6 lines)
• Sestet rhyme scheme:
CDECDE or CDCDEE
• The turn must occur
between the octave and
the sestet.
 Problem, Turn, and
Resolution
• The octave or 1st stanza presents the reader
about a problem or argument.
• The sestet or 2nd stanza offers a solution to
deal with the problem.
• 8th or 9th line is where the “volta” or turn
occurs.
• The turn makes a shift from the problem to
the solution.
• Problem or argument deals with love/passion.
 Syllabification
• All sonnets are written in iambic
pentameter.
• Iambic pentameter is a rhythm/meter which
has five feet.
• Iamb refers to the beat that has an
unstressed and stressed syllable/sound.
• A “foot” is the combination of a unstressed
and stressed syllable (always in that order)
• “Penta” is five (line has five “feet”).
• Total of 10 syllables per line.
The Sound of Iambic
Pentameter
“Not like the brazen giant of Greek
fame”
No underline: unstressed
Underlined: stressed

How many syllables?

Where do you hear the stress?