Understanding the Petrarchan Sonnet Structure

A sonnet is a fourteen-line poem written in iambic pentameter. There are several types of sonnets, one of the most well-known being the Petrarchan sonnet, also called the Italian sonnet.

The question tells us that a Petrarchan sonnet has two main parts. It also specifies that the second part of this sonnet structure contains six lines.

Breaking Down the Petrarchan Sonnet Parts

The total number of lines in a standard sonnet is fourteen. A Petrarchan sonnet divides these fourteen lines into two distinct sections:

• The first part
• The second part

We are given that the second part has six lines. Let's determine the number of lines in the first part. Since the total is 14 lines and the second part has 6 lines, the first part must contain:

\( \text{Total lines} - \text{Lines in the second part} = \text{Lines in the first part} \)

\( 14 - 6 = 8 \)

So, the first part of a Petrarchan sonnet has eight lines.

Identifying the Sonnet's Sections by Name

In poetry, stanzas or sections of specific lengths have traditional names:

• A section of eight lines is called an octave.
• A section of six lines is called a sestet.
• A section of four lines is called a quatrain.
• A section of two lines is called a couplet.

Since the first part of the Petrarchan sonnet has eight lines, it is known as an octave.

The second part, which has six lines, is consequently known as a sestet.

Therefore, the first part of the Petrarchan sonnet is called an octave.

Revision Table: Key Sonnet Terms

Additional Information: Beyond the Petrarchan Octave and Sestet

While the Petrarchan sonnet's structure is defined by its octave and sestet, other aspects are important:

• Rhyme Scheme: The traditional rhyme scheme for the Petrarchan sonnet's octave is ABBAABBA. The sestet typically has a varying rhyme scheme, such as CDECDE, CDCDCD, or CDCEDC.
• Volta: A significant characteristic of the Petrarchan sonnet is the "volta" or "turn." This is a shift in thought, feeling, or argument that occurs between the octave and the sestet, usually at the beginning of the sestet. The octave often presents a problem or question, and the sestet provides a resolution, answer, or commentary.
• Shakespearean Sonnet: Another major type is the Shakespearean (or English) sonnet. This structure consists of three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final couplet (two lines), with a rhyme scheme typically ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The volta in a Shakespearean sonnet often occurs before the final couplet.

Understanding these structures helps appreciate the form and content of sonnets.