Italian Sonnet

Sonnet Basics:

• 14 lines: an octave of 8 lines followed by a sestet of 6 lines
• Iambic pentameter: ba DUM ba DUM ba DUM ba DUM ba DUM
• Involves a comparison, a juxtaposition, a contrast to help examine an idea
• Contains a volta after the octave--a 'turn around'

The Italian Sonnet:

• Also known as the Petrarchan Sonnet
• Rhyme scheme for the octave: abba abba 
• Rhyme schemes for sestet vary: 
• cdcdcd
• cddcdc
• cdecde
• cdcedc
• Avoid ending the sestet with a couplet

Worksheet:

ITALIAN SONNET:

A

B

B

A

A

B

B

A

CHOOSE ONE COLUMN:

C  C  C   C

D  D  D  D

C  D  E   C

D  C  C   E

C  D  D   D

D  C  E   C

Gabriel's Horn Poetry Anthology

to submit your formal poetry