Italian (Petrarchan) Sonnet
Poetry Contest
We often have contests for Shakespearean sonnets. If you fancy yourself as a sonneteer, but would like a variation in form, why not try your hand at the Italian or Petrarchan sonnet? The entry fee is a little higher than usual, but then, so is the prize money, and I will be monitoring the entries myself.
The meter remains as iambic pentameter. However, unlike the Shakespearean version with its three quatrains and a couplet, the Italian sonnet consists of an octave (8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines). It is generally considered that the sestet contains a turn (volta) or a distinct change of tone or subject matter.
The rhyme scheme for the octave is fixed as abbaabba
The rhyme for the sestet is more flexible. The following schemes are all acceptable:
c d c d c d
c d d c d c
c d e c d e
c d e c e d
c d c e d c
Although some consider a final rhyming couplet is a weakness in this form, I am also happy to accept c d c d e e or c d d c e e
I would encourage all contestants to do their own research on this form and to study well-known examples. Here is one of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's 'Sonnets From the Portuguese' as an example. She wrote 44 of these, so that should give you plenty of inspiration.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day?s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood?s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Good luck, poets. I hope I've included everything. Just start a thread below if you have any queries.
The contest winner will win half of the prize pool of 180.00 member dollars. In this contest at least 5 submissions must be made for the vote to begin.
Deadline: Contest is closed. Deadline was Monday, September 19, 2016.
Full Contest Listing
The meter remains as iambic pentameter. However, unlike the Shakespearean version with its three quatrains and a couplet, the Italian sonnet consists of an octave (8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines). It is generally considered that the sestet contains a turn (volta) or a distinct change of tone or subject matter.
The rhyme scheme for the octave is fixed as abbaabba
The rhyme for the sestet is more flexible. The following schemes are all acceptable:
c d c d c d
c d d c d c
c d e c d e
c d e c e d
c d c e d c
Although some consider a final rhyming couplet is a weakness in this form, I am also happy to accept c d c d e e or c d d c e e
I would encourage all contestants to do their own research on this form and to study well-known examples. Here is one of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's 'Sonnets From the Portuguese' as an example. She wrote 44 of these, so that should give you plenty of inspiration.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day?s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood?s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Good luck, poets. I hope I've included everything. Just start a thread below if you have any queries.
The contest winner will win half of the prize pool of 180.00 member dollars. In this contest at least 5 submissions must be made for the vote to begin.
Deadline: Contest is closed. Deadline was Monday, September 19, 2016.
