Petrarch’s sonnets were the first to use the sonnet form in western literature. He was inspired by the poems of ancient Greece and Rome, which used short stanzas that expressed a single idea.
Petrarch published his first collection of sonnets in 1416, which was titled Canzoniere (Songbook). This collection included 366 poems.
The sonnet form consists of 14 lines of iambic pentameter, usually divided into an octave (8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines).
They are written in iambic pentameter, which is a naturally flowing rhythm that sounds similar to speaking out loud. The last two syllables of each line alliterate with each other in order to create this effect (for example: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”).
Sonnets are often very emotional because they’re meant to be read aloud and heard by others. They can also be quite personal because they’re often written about one’s own experiences or feelings.
Although sonnets were originally written in Italian, it wasn’t until the 15th century that they began to be used in English literature. The earliest known use of sonnets in English literature dates back to 1470 when Edmund Spenser published “Prothalamion”. Sonnets continued to be used throughout 16th century England until they were popularized by Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets.
Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets are some of the most famous poems ever written in English. They were published in 1609 under the title “The Passionate Pilgrim” and included a dedication to one of Shakespeare’s patrons: Lady Rich.”
