The octave is rhymed abbaabba-meaning that the last word of the first line rhymes with those of the fourth, fifth, and eighth lines (the a rhymes) and the last word of the second line rhymes with those of the third, sixth, and seventh lines (the b rhymes). They resolve the problem, answer the question, or relieve the tension. The last six lines are called the sestet. They state a problem, ask a question, or express an emotional tension. The first eight lines are called the octave. The Petrarchan sonnet treats its theme in two parts. His Canzoniere-a sequence of poems including 317 sonnets-established and perfected the Petrarchan sonnet. It reached its height of popularity in the 14th century in the love poems of Petrarch. I’ll listen to your words- you know I’m fair.The sonnet form seems to have originated in the 13th century among Italian court poets.
My love, use whispers closely late tonight. There’s nothing risked delaying words that grate. So hold those words for later don’t despair The thoughts that form those words might disappear. They’re best unsaid than trying to attone. We’ve both before said words we can’t disown, Harsh words once thrown will travel like a spear. You’ll want to be assured your meaning’s clear. I ask that first you test your words alone. Should you be moved to speak in anger, dear, Tell Me of Your Anger in Whispers (Italian Sonnet) Whatever the changes made by poets exercising artistic license, no “proper” Italian sonnet has more than five different rhymes in it. These poets do not necessarily restrict themselves to the strict metrical or rhyme schemes of the traditional Petrarchan form some use iambic hexameter, while others do not observe the octave-sestet division created by the traditional rhyme scheme. Poets adopting the Petrarchan sonnet form often adapt the form to their own ends to create various effects. The first known sonnets in English, written by Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, used this Italian scheme, as did sonnets by later English poets including John Milton, Thomas Gray, William Wordsworth and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. In time, other variants on this rhyming scheme were introduced such as c-d-c-d-c-d. For the sestet there were two different possibilities, c-d-e-c-d-e and c-d-c-c-d-c. In the sonnets of Giacomo da Lentini, the octave rhymed a-b-a-b, a-b-a-b later, the a-b-b-a, a-b-b-a pattern became the standard for Italian sonnets. Even in sonnets that don’t strictly follow the problem/resolution structure, the ninth line still often marks a volta by signaling a change in the tone, mood, or stance of the poem. Typically, the ninth line creates a “turn” or volta, which signals the move from proposition to resolution. First, the octave (two quatrains, or two groups of four lines), which describe a problem, followed by a sestet (two tercets, two groups of three lines), which gives the resolution to it. 1250–1300) wrote sonnets, but the most famous early sonneteer was Petrarca (known in English as Petrarch). Other Italian poets of the time, including Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) and Guido Cavalcanti (c. Guittone d’Arezzo rediscovered it and brought it to Tuscany where he adapted it to his language when he founded the Neo-Sicilian School (1235–1294). The Italian sonnet was created by Giacomo da Lentini, head of the Sicilian School under Frederick II. Usually, English and Italian Sonnets have 10 syllables per line, but Italian Sonnets can also have 11 syllables per line. An Italian sonnet is composed of an octave, rhyming abbaabba, and a sestet, rhyming cdecde or cdcdcd, or in some variant pattern, but with no closing couplet.