Fifteen sonnets of Petrarch (eBook)

Francesco Petrarca, known as Petrarch in the English-speaking world (July 20, 1304 – July 19, 1374), was an Italian scholar, poet, and one of the earliest humanists. Petrarch's rediscovery of Cicero's letters is often credited with initiating the 14th-century Renaissance and the founding of Renaissance humanism. His sonnets were admired and imitated throughout Renaissance Europe and became a model for lyrical poetry. He is most renowned for his 'Canzoniere,' a collection of vernacular poems dedicated to his idealized love, Laura. Among this collection, his 'Fifteen Sonnets of Petrarch' exhibit the intricate poetic form and complex emotional themes characteristic of his work. He also composed epic Latin verse, including the 'Africa,' and was well known for his Latin writings on morality. His classical scholarship and ethical writings, such as 'De vita solitaria' and 'De otio religioso,' respectively, reflect his personal introspection and the spirit of the era. His efforts in philology contributed to the refinement of the Italian vernacular and his sonnets solidified the standard form for the Petrarchan sonnet, marked by an octave with a rhyme scheme of abbaabba, followed by a sestet typically rhyming cdecde or cdcdcd. As a result of his work, Petrarch is often called the 'father of humanism' and his literary achievements bestowed upon him the laurel wreath, a symbol of supreme poetic accomplishment during his lifetime.