An Italian sonnet has one octet of 8 lines and one sestet of 6 lines, making 14 lines in total. The key difference between the two sonnets is their line distribution or structure.This was much before the English sonnet that made its first appearance at the beginning of 16 th A.D. Italian sonnet was first made at early 11 A.D.While the English sonnet is named after Shakespeare as the Shakespearean sonnet, the Italian sonnet is named after Petrarch, an Italian sonnet writer, as Petrarchan sonnet. Though both the sonnets have an alternate name, they differ because they are named after different people.Main Differences Between English Sonnet and Italian Sonnet It is relatively more difficult to find English words fitting the Italian sonnet rhyming scheme because it was originally made to be written in the Italian language. It is also called as Petrarchan sonnet named after the great Italian sonnet writer Petrarch. The octet introduces and explains the problem whereas the sestet enunciates the solution to it. Like any other sonnet, Italian sonnet also addresses a problem and poses a solution to it through the intricate and specified rhyming scheme. The Italian sonnet, unlike the English sonnet, has only two parts: an octet of 8 lines and a sestet of 6 lines. One of his famous sonnet work is the drama ‘Romeo and Juliet’ What is an Italian Sonnet?Īn Italian sonnet was first made in the 11 th A.D. He has volumes of books of self-written sonnets with beautifully constructed rhyming schemes. It was named after William Shakespeare as Shakespearean sonnet as he was a renowned English sonnet writer. This is the basic structure followed by an English sonnet. The third quatrain gives the solution and the rhyming couplet concludes the sonnet. The first quatrain introduces the problem while the second quatrain elaborates the same. The main characteristics of the English sonnet are the line distribution of 3 quatrains of 4 lines each and a couplet of 2 lines.
Line distribution Quatrains(4 lines) and a couplet(2 lines) Octets(8 lines) and sestets(6 lines) Structure of a sonnet The first two quatrains have the problem while the third quatrain and the couplet have the solution The octet introduces the problem while the sestet tells the solution Rhyming It is relatively easy to find the rhyme It is hard to rhyme because it was originally made for the Italian language Position of volta Third quatrain Ninth line What is an English Sonnet?Īn English sonnet first made at the beginning of 16 th A.D. Comparison Table Between English Sonnet and Italian Sonnet Parameters of Comparison English Sonnet Italian Sonnet Alternate name Shakespearean sonnet Petrarchan sonnet Origin 16 A.D. Much like the English sonnet, the Italian sonnet was also not first written by Petrarch but was named so because he was the most renowned Italian sonnet writer of the time. Though Shakespeare was not the one to first write an English sonnet, he was the most renowned one and therefore, the sonnet was named after him.Īn Italian sonnet can also be called Petrarchan sonnet and was first made at the beginning of 11 A.D. An English sonnet, also known as Shakespearean sonnet was first made in the early 16 A.D.