Petrarchan

Petrarchan is an adjective used to describe things related to the Italian poet Francesco Petrarca, known as Petrarch, and to the poetry and literary conventions associated with him. In literary history, it denotes both Petrarch’s own lyric repertoire, notably the Canzoniere, and a broader tradition of Renaissance lyric poetry that emulates his style.

The Petrarchan sonnet, or Italian sonnet, is a prominent form linked to Petrarch. It comprises an octave of eight lines, typically with the rhyme scheme ABBA ABBA, followed by a sestet of six lines with varied endings, commonly CDE CDE or CDCDCD. The turn, or volta, usually occurs between the octave and the sestet, signaling a shift in argument, mood, or perspective. Themes often center on idealized, unattainable love, but may also address moral or philosophical reflections.

Petrarchan poetry had a wide influence in Europe during the Renaissance and beyond. Petrarch’s Canzoniere shaped a standard of personal lyric in which inner emotion is expressed through classical allusions and refined diction. The form was adapted into English by poets such as Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, who introduced an English variant and helped popularize the sonnet in English literature. The term "Petrarchan" is used to distinguish this tradition from other sonnet forms, such as the English or Shakespearean, and to describe works that align with Petrarchan ideals of love and expression.