Sonnet
A fourteen-line poetic form originating in 13th-century Sicily.
The sonnet is a fixed poetic form traditionally consisting of fourteen lines adhering to a set rhyming scheme. Originating in 13th-century Sicily, it was taken up in many European-language areas, initially to express romantic love, though eventually any subject became acceptable. The term derives from the Italian word sonetto ('little song', from Latin sonus, 'sound').
- origin
- 13th-century Sicily
- inventor_credited
- Giacomo da Lentini
- earliest_form
- pair of quatrains followed by a pair of tercets (ABABABAB CDCDCD)
- standard_Italian_octave
- ABBA ABBA
- standard_Italian_sestet_variants
- CDECDE, CDCCDC, CDCDCD, CDEDCE
- notable_early_practitioners
- Guittone d'Arezzo, Dante Alighieri, Guido Cavalcanti, Petrarch
- notable_later_practitioners
- Giotto, Michelangelo, Galileo
Lore & Background
Giacomo da Lentini is credited with the sonnet's invention at the Court of Frederick II in Palermo. The Sicilian School of poets spread the form to the mainland. The earliest sonnets survive only in Tuscan dialect translation. The original form consisted of a pair of quatrains followed by a pair of tercets with the symmetrical rhyme scheme ABABABAB CDCDCD, where the sense carries forward in a new direction after the midway break. Peter Dronke commented that something intrinsic to its flexible form contributed to the sonnet's survival far beyond its region of origin. William Baer suggested that the first eight lines of the earliest Sicilian sonnets are identical to the eight-line Sicilian folksong stanza known as the Strambotto, to which da Lentini added two tercets to create the new 14-line form. In contrast, Hassanally Ladha argued that the Sicilian sonnet's structure and content drew upon Arabic poetry and cannot be explained as the 'invention' of the Sicilian School, noting that the sonnet did not emerge simultaneously with its supposedly defining 14-line structure.
Reader's Guide
Guittone d'Arezzo rediscovered the sonnet form and brought it to Tuscany, adapting it to Tuscan dialect and founding the Siculo-Tuscan school. Later, the ABBA ABBA pattern became standard for Italian sonnets, with various sestet possibilities. Petrarch typically used ABBA ABBA for the octave, followed by CDE CDE or CDC CDC rhymes in the sestet. The sonnet sequence unified about a single theme appeared at the turn of the 14th century, represented by Folgore da San Gimignano's series on the months and days. Dante published La Vita Nuova with sonnets centered on his love for Beatrice. Sonnet writing became widespread in Italian society, with practitioners including painters Giotto and Michelangelo, and astronomer Galileo. One of the earliest sonnets in Catalan was written by Pere Torroella.
Did You Know?
- The term 'sonnet' derives from the Italian word 'sonetto', meaning 'little song', from Latin 'sonus' (sound).
- Giacomo da Lentini is credited with inventing the sonnet at the Court of Frederick II in Palermo.
- The earliest Sicilian sonnets survive only in Tuscan dialect translation, not in the original Sicilian.
- Hassanally Ladha argued that the Sicilian sonnet drew upon Arabic poetry and cannot be explained as the 'invention' of the Sicilian School.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sonnet?
A sonnet is a fixed poetic form built from fourteen lines that follow a prescribed rhyming pattern. The name traces back to the Italian word 'sonetto' (little song), which itself derives from the Latin 'sonus,' meaning sound.
Where and when did the sonnet originate?
The form first emerged in 13th-century Sicily, and Giacomo da Lentini is generally credited as its inventor. From there it spread across many European-language literary traditions.
What is the standard rhyme scheme of an Italian sonnet?
The traditional octave follows an ABBA ABBA pattern, and the sextet may use variants such as CDECDE, CDCCDC, CDCDCD, or CDEDCE. The earliest known arrangement paired two quatrains with two tercets (ABABABAB CDCDCD).
Who are the most notable early sonnet writers?
Guittone d'Arezzo, Dante Alighieri, Guido Cavalcanti, and Petrarch are among the key early practitioners who helped define the form in Italian. Their contributions set the conventions that later European poets inherited and adapted.
What subjects can a sonnet address?
The form was originally crafted to express romantic love, but over the centuries any topic became acceptable. Modern poets use the fourteen-line structure for everything from political commentary to personal reflection.
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