, originating in 14th-century Italy, revolutionized European lyric traditions and shaped English literature. 's sonnets, exploring and internal conflicts, established conventions that influenced generations of poets.
The Petrarchan tradition spread across Europe, adapting to different languages and cultures. In England, poets like Wyatt, Surrey, and Sidney introduced and refined the sonnet form, while Shakespeare subverted Petrarchan tropes in his innovative works.
Origins of Petrarchan poetry
Petrarchan poetry emerged in 14th-century Italy, revolutionizing European lyric traditions
Influenced subsequent generations of poets, shaping the course of English literature through Milton
Petrarch's life and works
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Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374) Italian scholar and poet of the early
Composed , a collection of 366 poems mostly dedicated to his , Laura
Wrote in both Latin and vernacular Italian, elevating the status of Italian as a literary language
Developed the sonnet form as a vehicle for exploring complex emotions and introspection
Italian sonnet structure
Consists of 14 lines divided into an (8 lines) and a (6 lines)
Octave follows rhyme scheme, presenting a problem or situation
Sestet uses various rhyme schemes (, ) providing resolution or reflection
(turn) occurs between octave and sestet, shifting the poem's tone or perspective
Employs lines (11 syllables) in the Italian tradition
Themes in Petrarch's poetry
Explores the concept of courtly love, idealizing the unattainable beloved
Grapples with internal conflicts between earthly desires and spiritual aspirations
Uses as a reflection of the poet's emotional state
Incorporates and
Examines the transformative power of love on the individual's psyche and soul
Petrarchan conventions
Established a set of literary devices and themes that became hallmarks of Renaissance love poetry
Influenced the development of lyric poetry across Europe, shaping poetic expression for centuries
Idealized beloved
Portrays the object of affection as a paragon of beauty and virtue
Describes the beloved using elaborate metaphors and hyperbole
Often compares the lady's features to celestial bodies or precious gems (eyes like stars)
Presents the beloved as distant and unattainable, heightening the poet's longing
Emphasizes the spiritual and ennobling aspects of love over physical desire
Unrequited love
Central theme in Petrarchan poetry, focusing on the poet's unfulfilled passion
Explores the psychological effects of rejection and unreciprocated affection
Uses the concept of love as a form of sweet suffering or delightful pain
Portrays the poet as a devoted servant to the indifferent or cruel beloved
Employs paradoxical language to convey the conflicting emotions of
Nature imagery
Utilizes natural elements as metaphors for the poet's emotional state
Includes recurring motifs such as streams, forests, and gardens
Contrasts the beauty of nature with the poet's inner turmoil
Uses seasonal changes to reflect the progression of the poet's feelings
Incorporates celestial imagery (sun, moon, stars) to elevate the beloved's status
Paradoxical emotions
Expresses contradictory feelings simultaneously to convey the complexity of love
Uses oxymorons and antitheses to highlight emotional conflicts (freezing fire)
Explores the duality of love as both a source of joy and suffering
Portrays love as a force that both elevates and torments the poet
Employs paradoxes to illustrate the transformative and often irrational nature of passion
Spread of Petrarchism
Petrarchan conventions spread throughout Europe during the Renaissance, influencing diverse literary traditions
Adaptation of Petrarchan themes and forms led to the development of national poetic styles
Petrarchism in Renaissance Italy
Bembo's Prose della volgar lingua (1525) codified Petrarchan style for Italian poets
Influenced major Italian Renaissance poets (Michelangelo, Tasso)
Led to the development of the madrigal as a musical form based on Petrarchan verses
Inspired visual artists to create allegorical representations of Petrarchan themes
Contributed to the standardization of the Italian literary language
French adaptations
Introduced to France by poets of the Pléiade group, particularly Pierre de Ronsard
Joachim du Bellay's L'Olive (1549) adapted Petrarchan sonnets to the French language
French poets modified the sonnet structure to suit the characteristics of their language
Incorporated Petrarchan themes into other poetic forms such as the ode and the chanson
Influenced the development of préciosité in 17th-century French literature
Spanish Petrarchan poetry
Garcilaso de la Vega introduced Petrarchan forms to Spanish poetry in the 16th century
Spanish poets adapted the hendecasyllabic line to create the Spanish sonnet
Influenced major Golden Age poets (Góngora, Quevedo)
Incorporated Petrarchan themes into longer poetic forms like the canción and the égloga
Contributed to the development of conceptismo and culteranismo in Spanish Baroque poetry
English Petrarchan tradition
Petrarchism profoundly influenced the development of English Renaissance poetry
Adaptation of Petrarchan conventions to English language and culture shaped the sonnet tradition
Wyatt and Surrey
Sir Thomas Wyatt introduced the sonnet form to English poetry in the early 16th century
Wyatt translated and adapted Petrarch's sonnets, adjusting them to English metrics
Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, developed the English (Shakespearean) sonnet structure
Both poets incorporated Petrarchan themes while adapting them to Tudor court culture
Their work laid the foundation for the English sonnet sequences of the Elizabethan era
Sidney's Astrophil and Stella
's (1591) marked the height of English Petrarchism
Consists of 108 sonnets and 11 songs exploring the speaker's love for Stella
Employs Petrarchan conventions while introducing wit and self-awareness
Innovates within the tradition by using colloquial language and dramatic monologue
Influenced subsequent Elizabethan sonneteers and established the English sonnet sequence genre
Spenser's Amoretti
's sonnet sequence (1595) chronicles his courtship of Elizabeth Boyle
Adapts Petrarchan themes to a more personal and autobiographical narrative
Introduces the form, linking three quatrains with a couplet
Incorporates Christian imagery and Neoplatonic philosophy into the Petrarchan tradition
Concludes with Epithalamion, a wedding poem that resolves the tensions of the sonnet sequence
Petrarchan influence on Shakespeare
Shakespeare engaged with and subverted Petrarchan conventions in his sonnets
His innovations within the tradition influenced subsequent developments in English poetry
Shakespeare's sonnets vs Petrarchan
Shakespeare primarily used the English sonnet form (three quatrains and a couplet)
Employed a wider range of subjects beyond the traditional love theme
Addressed sonnets to both a male friend (Fair Youth) and a female lover (Dark Lady)
Used more direct and conversational language compared to Petrarchan abstraction
Explored themes of time, beauty, and mortality alongside love and desire
Subversion of Petrarchan tropes
Challenged the idealization of the beloved by presenting flawed and human subjects
Employed irony and wit to undermine conventional Petrarchan hyperbole
Reversed gender roles in some sonnets, portraying the speaker as the object of desire
Questioned the sincerity and authenticity of Petrarchan declarations of love
Used Petrarchan conventions to explore themes beyond romantic love (friendship, patronage)
Dark Lady sonnets
Presented a non-idealized beloved, contrasting with Petrarchan conventions
Explored themes of lust, betrayal, and moral ambiguity
Used darker imagery and more complex emotional landscapes
Challenged racial and beauty standards of the time through unconventional descriptions
Employed paradox and antithesis to convey the speaker's conflicted feelings
Evolution of Petrarchism
Petrarchan conventions evolved and adapted over time, influencing various poetic movements
Reactions against Petrarchism led to new forms of poetic expression and thematic exploration
Anti-Petrarchan poetry
Emerged as a reaction against the perceived artificiality of Petrarchan conventions
's Songs and Sonnets challenged Petrarchan idealization with frank eroticism
Developed more realistic and cynical portrayals of love and relationships
Employed colloquial language and dramatic scenarios instead of abstract praise
Parodied Petrarchan tropes to critique social and literary conventions
Baroque adaptations
Baroque poets intensified Petrarchan imagery and rhetoric
Employed more elaborate conceits and extended metaphors
Explored religious themes using Petrarchan language of divine love
Emphasized sensual and visual elements in descriptions of beauty
Developed complex structures that played with Petrarchan conventions ('s pattern poems)
Decline of Petrarchan influence
Gradual shift away from Petrarchan conventions in the 17th and 18th centuries
Rise of Neoclassicism favored more restrained and rational poetic expression
Romantic movement rejected Petrarchan artifice in favor of spontaneous emotion
Continued influence on form (sonnet) even as thematic elements were abandoned
Revival of interest in Petrarchan traditions by some 19th and 20th-century poets ()
Legacy in English literature
Petrarchan influence extended beyond the Renaissance, shaping various aspects of English poetry
Continued to inform poetic techniques and themes even as poets moved away from strict Petrarchan conventions
Impact on lyric poetry
Established the sonnet as a major form in English poetry, inspiring countless variations
Influenced the development of other lyric forms such as the ode and the song
Contributed to the refinement of poetic language and imagery in English verse
Shaped approaches to exploring subjectivity and introspection in poetry
Provided a model for cyclical and narrative structures in lyric sequences
Influence on Metaphysical poets
Metaphysical poets engaged with and transformed Petrarchan conventions
John Donne used Petrarchan language to explore spiritual and philosophical themes
George Herbert adapted Petrarchan imagery for religious poetry
Andrew Marvell employed Petrarchan conceits in complex intellectual arguments
Metaphysical conceits developed as an extension and subversion of Petrarchan imagery
Petrarchan elements in Milton
John Milton incorporated Petrarchan influences in his early sonnets and lyric poems
Used Petrarchan conventions in religious contexts (Sonnet 19: "When I consider how my light is spent")
Adapted Petrarchan imagery in epic works like Paradise Lost
Employed Petrarchan language to explore themes of love, loss, and divine grace
Synthesized Petrarchan elements with classical and biblical traditions in his poetry
Key Terms to Review (32)
Abbaabba: Abbaabba is a rhyme scheme commonly associated with the Petrarchan sonnet, characterized by its specific arrangement of end sounds. This scheme typically follows an octave form, where the first eight lines (the octave) use the rhyming pattern of 'a' and 'b' sounds in a particular order, creating a musical and cohesive quality that enhances the poem's emotional resonance. This structure not only shapes the lyrical flow but also serves to heighten thematic contrasts and tensions present in the poetry influenced by Petrarch's style.
Cdcdcd: The term 'cdcdcd' refers to a specific rhyme scheme commonly found in poetry, particularly in sonnets. This scheme indicates that the second and fourth lines of a quatrain rhyme with each other, while the first and third lines follow a different rhyme. This structure often enhances the musicality and rhythm of the poem, allowing for a more varied expression of emotion and thought.
Cdecde: Cdecde is a rhyme scheme that is often associated with the Petrarchan sonnet form, characterized by a specific arrangement of rhymes within the poem. This scheme involves two rhyming couplets followed by a quatrain, creating a structured yet flexible approach to poetic expression. The cdecde pattern allows for thematic development and resolution, which aligns with the emotional depth typically found in Petrarchan poetry.
Classical Allusions: Classical allusions are references to figures, events, or texts from ancient Greek and Roman mythology, literature, and history. These allusions serve to enhance a work's meaning, evoke certain emotions, and provide deeper context, often connecting contemporary themes with timeless human experiences. Writers use classical allusions to draw parallels between their characters or situations and the revered stories and figures of antiquity.
Courtly love: Courtly love is a medieval European literary concept that idealizes chivalric romance, emphasizing noble admiration and devotion between lovers, often in a context that glorifies unattainable love. This tradition presents love as a transformative experience, typically marked by longing, suffering, and the pursuit of virtue, which connects deeply to various literary works and traditions throughout history.
Edmund Spenser: Edmund Spenser was an English poet known for his contributions to the development of English literature, particularly during the late 16th century. He is most famous for his epic poem 'The Faerie Queene,' which combines chivalric romance with allegory and political commentary, reflecting the Renaissance ideals and Petrarchan influences that shaped his work.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a prominent Victorian poet known for her influential works that explored themes of love, social justice, and the role of women in society. Her poetry often drew inspiration from earlier literary traditions, particularly the Petrarchan sonnet form, which she adapted to express her unique voice and experiences, making her one of the most significant poets of her time.
Francesco Petrarca: Francesco Petrarca, known in English as Petrarch, was a 14th-century Italian poet and scholar whose work laid the foundation for Renaissance humanism. His sonnets, particularly those addressing his idealized love for Laura, exemplified the Petrarchan sonnet form and significantly influenced later poets and literary movements, shaping themes of love, nature, and individual emotion in Western literature.
George Herbert: George Herbert was a 17th-century Welsh poet and priest, known for his innovative approach to religious poetry, often reflecting his deep devotion and spiritual struggle. His works are characterized by their use of form and structure, which often mirror the themes of faith, humility, and divine love, making him a key figure in the development of devotional poetry, while also showing traces of Petrarchan influence and the metaphysical style that would later be echoed by Andrew Marvell.
Hendecasyllabic: Hendecasyllabic refers to a metrical form consisting of eleven syllables, commonly used in poetry, particularly in the works influenced by Petrarch. This form allows for a unique rhythm and is characterized by its lyrical quality, which can express deep emotions and complex ideas. It was a popular choice among Renaissance poets who sought to emulate the styles of earlier Italian writers, and its usage reflects the blending of classical forms with vernacular expression.
Humanism: Humanism is an intellectual movement that emerged during the Renaissance, focusing on the value of human beings, individual agency, and the study of classical texts. This movement emphasized the importance of reason, ethics, and critical thinking, leading to a revival of interest in classical antiquity and shaping various aspects of art, literature, and philosophy during this period.
Idealized love: Idealized love refers to a romantic notion where love is viewed as perfect, unattainable, or transcendent, often emphasizing qualities such as beauty, virtue, and devotion. This concept is deeply rooted in literary traditions and often represents the conflict between idealism and reality, showcasing how characters navigate their desires and relationships.
Il canzoniere: Il canzoniere is a collection of poems by the Italian poet Petrarch, specifically composed of sonnets that express deep emotions, particularly love and longing. This work is often regarded as one of the cornerstones of Italian literature and played a crucial role in establishing the Petrarchan sonnet form, which has influenced countless poets across generations, including those in English literature.
John Donne: John Donne was a prominent English poet and cleric in the Church of England, known for his innovative and complex poetry that blends themes of love, religion, and mortality. His works often employ metaphysical conceits and explore deep emotional and spiritual experiences, connecting him to other significant figures and movements in early modern literature.
John Keats: John Keats was a prominent English Romantic poet known for his vivid imagery and emotional depth. His work often reflects the influence of earlier poets, particularly Petrarch, whose themes of love and beauty resonated with Keats' own poetic expressions, leading to a rich exploration of human experience and the interplay between reality and imagination.
Melancholy: Melancholy is a deep, persistent sadness or sorrow that can often evoke feelings of introspection and reflection. This emotion is commonly explored in literature, often linked to themes of loss, longing, and existential contemplation. It serves as a crucial lens through which characters and poets express their struggles with human experience, impacting their perceptions of love, beauty, and the passage of time.
Mythological references: Mythological references are allusions to myths, legends, and folklore that draw upon the shared cultural knowledge of a society. These references can enhance the meaning of a text by providing deeper context, drawing parallels between characters and events, and enriching themes through symbolism and archetypes. In literature, particularly during the Renaissance, writers often incorporated mythological elements to connect their works to classical traditions and explore human experiences.
Nature imagery: Nature imagery refers to the use of descriptive language that evokes the natural world, including elements like plants, animals, landscapes, and weather. This technique helps to create vivid mental pictures for readers and often serves to enhance themes, emotions, or character experiences within a text.
Octave: An octave is a stanza or section of eight lines in a poem, often associated with the Petrarchan sonnet form. This structure typically establishes a problem, situation, or emotional state that is then resolved or reflected upon in the subsequent six lines. The octave plays a crucial role in shaping the thematic development of the poem, influencing how readers engage with the speaker's thoughts and emotions.
Paradoxical Emotions: Paradoxical emotions refer to feelings that seem contradictory or opposing yet coexist within an individual. This concept captures the complexity of human emotions, revealing how people can experience joy and sadness simultaneously or love and hate towards the same person. In literature, particularly influenced by the Petrarchan tradition, these emotions highlight the depth of character and the intricacies of love, longing, and loss.
Petrarchan Poetry: Petrarchan poetry, also known as the Italian sonnet, is a poetic form that originated from the works of the Italian poet Petrarch. This form typically consists of 14 lines divided into an octave and a sestet, with a rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA for the octave and various possibilities such as CDCDCD or CDECDE for the sestet. This structure emphasizes themes of unattainable love and deep emotional expression, which have influenced countless poets throughout history.
Philip Sidney: Philip Sidney was a prominent English poet, courtier, and soldier of the late 16th century, best known for his contributions to the sonnet tradition and his influence on later poets. His works, particularly 'Astrophel and Stella,' exemplify the Petrarchan style, showcasing themes of unrequited love and idealized beauty, while also embodying the Elizabethan spirit of individualism and exploration. Sidney's literary innovation paved the way for poets like Edmund Spenser, who admired his blending of classical and contemporary influences.
Renaissance: The Renaissance was a cultural and intellectual movement that originated in Italy during the 14th century and spread throughout Europe, marking a period of renewed interest in art, literature, science, and classical antiquity. This era was characterized by a shift from medieval to modern thinking, emphasizing humanism, individualism, and a revival of classical learning, which influenced various literary figures and genres.
Romanticism: Romanticism is a literary and artistic movement that emerged in the late 18th century, emphasizing emotion, individualism, and the beauty of nature as a reaction against the rationalism of the Enlightenment. This movement celebrated personal experience and the sublime, deeply influencing literature, poetry, and artistic expression across various cultures.
Sestet: A sestet is a six-line stanza or poem, often used in the context of sonnets, particularly the Petrarchan sonnet. It plays a critical role in the structure of these sonnets, where it typically follows an eight-line stanza called an octave, presenting a resolution or counterargument to the themes introduced earlier. This division allows for a shift in tone or perspective, making it essential for understanding the overall argument of the poem.
Sonnet Revival: The sonnet revival refers to the resurgence of interest in the sonnet form during the 19th century, particularly in English literature, following its initial popularity in the Renaissance. This revival saw poets adopting and adapting the traditional structures of sonnets, such as the Petrarchan and Shakespearean forms, to express contemporary themes and emotions, ultimately leading to a rich body of work that bridged historical styles with modern sensibilities.
Sonnet sequence: A sonnet sequence is a series of sonnets that are thematically connected, often exploring a single subject or emotion. These sequences allow poets to develop complex ideas and emotions over multiple poems, creating a larger narrative or thematic continuity. The structure encourages deep exploration of themes like love, beauty, or time, providing an intimate look into the poet's thoughts and feelings through the lens of multiple sonnets.
Spenserian Sonnet: The Spenserian sonnet is a poetic form that consists of 14 lines divided into three quatrains followed by a couplet, with a specific rhyme scheme of ABAB BCBC CDCD EE. Named after the poet Edmund Spenser, this sonnet form is known for its intricate interlocking rhyme and often explores themes of love, beauty, and moral ideals.
Unrequited love: Unrequited love refers to a one-sided romantic affection where one person loves another who does not reciprocate those feelings. This emotional state can lead to deep longing and heartache, often influencing literary themes, character motivations, and emotional depth in various works. The portrayal of unrequited love often emphasizes the pain of desire and the complexities of human relationships, making it a central theme in literature influenced by earlier poetic traditions.
Volta: Volta refers to the turn or shift in thought that occurs in a poem, particularly in sonnets, where the argument or emotional state changes direction. This term is crucial in understanding the structure and emotional dynamics of sonnets, especially those influenced by Petrarchan conventions, where it typically appears between the octave and the sestet. The volta serves to heighten the emotional impact of the poem and often introduces a resolution or a counterargument to the initial premise.
William Wordsworth: William Wordsworth was a prominent English Romantic poet, known for his deep appreciation of nature and the human experience. His work emphasized the importance of emotion and individual perception, often drawing inspiration from the beauty of the natural world and the simplicity of rural life. Wordsworth played a key role in shifting literary focus from the structured forms of neoclassicism to a more personal and expressive style, heavily influenced by the themes introduced by Petrarch.
Wistfulness: Wistfulness is a feeling of deep longing or yearning, often tinged with sadness and nostalgia for something that is lost or unattainable. This emotional state captures a sense of bittersweet reflection, where one reminisces about past experiences or desires while acknowledging their absence in the present. It is a prominent theme in literature, particularly when exploring love, loss, and the passage of time.