Question

Explain how the form of a Petrarchan sonnet affects the content and tone.

Answer 1

I think that it is certainly true that Petrarch’s style and beauty ideal and his use of devices such as metaphor or paradox created a gate way for other writers to come through.The descriptive words of the exact feelings and emotions that he was experiencing for Laura allowed for his audience to feel as if they were going through all of the things that Petrarch went through.

Answer 2

The form of a Petrarchan sonnet standardizes his work.  The rhythym of 10 syllables per line turns it into somewhat of a song.  The 1st eight lines are the octave , which are the introduction.  Then the final six lines are the resolution.   The turning point is the volta, which is at the beginning of the sestet.    

In order for him to stick to his standards of writing within  those formats- he may have been limited in what words he could use to get them to fit into the 10 sylable format.   That alone could affect the content.