I am studying Petrarchan poems in my lit class. Right now I am reading three Petrarchan poems: "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus, "Francisco Pertrarch- Sonnet VI", and "Francisco Petrarch- Sonnet CCXX".I need to identify the rhyme scheme of these poems and determine where the volta is and explain how the volta changed the mood of the poem. Can someone please help me find the rhyme scheme and volta of these three poems?
Here are examples of the rhyming scheme and volta of the Petrarch poems you listed. Hope it helps.
Sonnet VI
The eyes of which I spoke so warmly, the hands, A
the shoulders and the ankles and the face, B
that separated me from my Self's space, B
and marked me out from every other man: A
the lovely waving hair of shining gold, C
the loving light of that angelic smile, D
that made a paradise on earth a while, D
are dust, a little dust, senseless and grown cold. C
****volta****
And I, I live (for which I despise myself), E
and am saddened, left without the light I loved, F
in a damaged boat, in a great storm's madness. G
Now, make an end to the songs of the loving Self. E
The veins are dry where creation's blood once moved, F
and Poetry turned to eternal sadness. G
Sonnet CCXX
Whence did Love get the gold, and from what ore, A
To make two yellow braids? And in what bower B
Of thorns did he pluck roses, in what shore A
The fresh and fragile hoar, and give it power? B
Whence come the pearls in which he breaks and ties C
Sweet honest words, incomparably fine? D
Whence all the beauties that are so divine D
Of that forehead serener than the skies? C
****volta*****
From what angels derives and from what sphere, E
The holy singing by which I am slain, F
So that little is left to give me pain? F
From what sun qame the lofty light and clear E
That declares peace and war to my desire, G
And scalds my heart with ice as well as fire. G
To identify the rhyme scheme and volta in these poems, we'll need to closely analyze the structure and content of each poem.
For the rhyme scheme, you can start by looking for patterns in the end sounds of each line. Typically, in Petrarchan or Italian sonnets, the rhyme scheme follows the pattern ABBAABBA for the octave (first eight lines) and either CDCDCD or CDECDE for the sestet (last six lines).
Let's begin with "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus:
The rhyme scheme of this poem follows an irregular pattern. The octave has an ABAB CDCD scheme, and the sestet follows an EFEF GG pattern.
Next, let's move on to "Francisco Petrarch - Sonnet VI":
For this poem, the octave has an ABBAABBA scheme, and the sestet follows a CDCDCD pattern.
Lastly, let's analyze "Francisco Petrarch - Sonnet CCXX":
This poem also has an ABBAABBA rhyme scheme for the octave. However, the sestet follows a different pattern, which is CDEDCE.
Now, let's identify the volta, also known as the turn or the shift in the poem. The volta is a crucial point in a Petrarchan sonnet when there is a change in tone, argument, or perspective. It typically occurs between the octave and sestet.
In "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus, the volta occurs after the eighth line, following the ABBAABBA octave. The shift is seen when the poem transitions from discussing the statue of liberty externally to addressing the statue directly. This change in perspective from a description to an apostrophe shifts the mood and emphasizes the role of the statue as a beacon of hope for immigrants.
In "Francisco Petrarch - Sonnet VI," the volta is found at the start of the ninth line, following the ABBAABBA octave. The turn happens when the poet moves from expressing admiration for the beauty of Laura in the octave to lamenting his unrequited love for her in the sestet.
In "Francisco Petrarch - Sonnet CCXX," the volta takes place after the eighth line, following the ABBAABBA octave. The shift occurs when the poet transitions from expressing his love and longing for Laura in the octave to acknowledging and accepting that his love will ultimately remain unfulfilled in the sestet.
By analyzing these poems closely, identifying the rhyme schemes, and pinpointing the voltas, you can better understand how the mood, tone, or perspective changes in each poem.