Francesco+Petrarch

[[image:petrarch_25.jpg width="332" height="448" align="center"]]

 * Backround/Facts:**

Petrarch was an Italian poet, and one of the earliest Renaissance humanists. Petrarch is often popularly called the "father of humanism". Petrarch is credited with perfecting the sonnet, making it one of the most popular art forms to date. His sonnets were admired and imitated throughout Europe during the Renaissance and became a model for lyrical poems. Petrarch was also known for being one of the first people to call the Middle Ages the Dark Ages. Petrarch was known best for his poetry, Canzoniere and the Trionfi is his most famous. Petrarch's sonnet style was an 8-line octive rhyme scheme, ABBA ABBA, followed by a 6-line sestet, CDECDE, his octave always posed a problem and it was answered in the sestet. Petrarch loved to write about a woman named Laura. Petrach was the first writer that combined abstract entities of classical culture and Christian philosophy. He said that God had given humans their vast intellectual and creative potential to be used to their fullest. Though he was devout Catholic, he did not see a conflict between realizing humanity's potential and having religious faith. He inspired humanist philosophy which led to the intellectual flowering of the Renaissance.

**Essential Questions:**   1.)  How did Francesco Petrarch influence literary works during the Renaissance?

Petrarch was a Renaissance Humanist and is considered the “Father of Humanism” Since the Renaissance was a focus of Humanism – it can be said that Francesco Petrarch was the “Father of the Renaissance”. Humanism is a focus on Human element more than the supreme powers usually associated with the classical times.  2.)  What was a common theme of Petrarch’s work?

Petrarch is associated with writing about philosophical works as well as many sonnets. Petrarch wrote about his infatuation with a mistress by the name of “Laura”.

Sonnet 28: We read this work of Petrarch in class and it is about “Laura”. Petrarch makes sure that through his infatuation of Laura. The line: “From the world’s prying eye to hide my woe” he insinuates that Laura is unattainable or “out of league” for him. Like the traditional Petrarch/Italian sonnet, the sestet has the solution while the octave sets the problem; in lines 12-14 (ending couplet with the solution) Petrarch solves the problem of the unattainable woman, me makes sure that she still in her own mind loves him. Petrarch basically makes up the woman’s opinion of love for the speaker.  3.)  What is the writing style/format?

Setting his own format of sonnets, Petrarch influenced not only the literary works of the Renaissance, but set the standard format of the Italian sonnet. It is a sonnet in its classic form and tends to split into two sections, known as octave (eight line stanza) and sestet (six line stanza). Thus making 14 lines, and a sonnet. The rhyme scheme is as follows: ABBA-ABBA to the ABAB-ABAB. 

Works Cited http://petrarch.petersadlon.com/ Packet given in class.