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Petrarchan sonnet

Form
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A sonnet divided into octave and sestet with a thematic turn (volta).

Explore this topic in depth (1)

Volta — A volta is a turn: the moment when a poem changes direction in its thinking, feeling, argument, perspective, tone or imagery. Though closely associated with the sonnet, the volta can occur in almost any poem and at almost any point.

Detailed Definition
A Petrarchan sonnet is a 14-line poem divided into an octave (ABBAABBA) and a sestet (various rhyme schemes like CDECDE), originating in the works of Petrarch; it typically presents a problem or observation in the octave and a resolution or turn (volta) in the sestet, influencing English sonneteers like Milton.
Example
Example in poetry:
Petrarchan sonnet has an octave (ABBAABBA) and sestet (CDECDE), as in Wordsworth’s “London, 1802”: “Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour…”
Additional Notes
Petrarchan sonnet: Synonymous with Italian sonnet; 14 lines, octave-sestet structure, ABBAABBA + CDECDE/CDCDCD; named after Petrarch; ideal for exploring love, beauty, and spiritual conflict.
Also Known As
Italian sonnet Octave-sestet form Petrarch's form Classic fourteen-liner
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