Tags
Italian verse, Octave, Ottavo Rima, poetry form, Rhyme of eight, Sonnetto Rispetto, traditional poetry
Hi everyone! We are learning an Italian poetry form today, The Ottavo Rima or Sonnetto Rispetto. I hope you will enjoy the challenge of learning a traditional poetry form.
Six Tuscan Poets by Giorgio Vasari, 1584
History
The Ottavo Rima (rhyme of eight) or Sonnetto Rispetto (little song of respect) is believed to have originated in religious verse in the 13th century. It has been called the 3rd Italian Sonnet, although it is not a sonnet at all. It is traditionally a narrative epic often written in a series of octaves not the lyrical meditation contained within the quatorzain of the sonnet.
This form is best suited for “blending serious, comic and satirical attitudes and mingling narrative and discursive models…. It is the accumulation of rhyme, reaching a crescendo with the third repetition, which prepares the reader for the neat summation, the acute observation, or the epigrammatic twist which comes with the final couplet.”
It was the Italian, Pulci, in his Morgante Maggiore (1487), who brought a unique twist to the form, in a kind of mock-heroic, or half-serious, half-burlesque, style with which ottava rima has been most commonly identified. It was Pulci who influenced Frere and Byron when they resurrected the form in England two centuries later, however the most prominent example of Ottava Rima in English literature is Byron’s Don Juan (1819-1824). The eight, eleven syllable, rhymed lines carry the same frame as the Strambotto Tuscano but the forms differ since the Strambotto is usually limited to one octave and is lyrical in nature while the Ottava Rima is a narrative and is most often written in more than one octave.
Elements
The elements of the Ottavo Rima or Sonnetto Rispetto are:
- a fast narrative.
- stanzaic, written in any number of octaves.
- metered, most often iambic pentameter sometimes tetrameter. Its Spanish counterpart, the Ottava Real is hendecasyllabic (11 syllable lines).
- rhymed, Rhyme scheme is abababcc.
- best for blending serious and satirical attitudes.
- composed with the final couplet that sums up and brings a twist or enlightenment to the content of the stanza.
Today’s writing challenge: an Ottavo Rima poem written in 8-line octaves. Each line is of a 10 or 11 syllable count in the following rhyme:
one octave poem. abababcc
two octave poem. abababcc, dededeff
three octave poem. abababcc, dededeff, ghghghii
Here is an example of a two octave poem:
False Spring
@Grace Guevara
I listen to western wind’s murmurings –
Birthing songs by iris and daffodils
High-pitched cries by broad winged hawks nurturing-
There is restlessness in the air, the chills
Of winter are ebbing low & bordering
Small buds & silky tendrils sprouting gills
Shedding dark skin of soil & instinct to cling
And inhale the marvelous light of spring
The sun’s crimson fingers brings fresh mirror
Sketching the pale grey sky blue as bluebells
Coloring the leaves young and green, clearer
Than raindrops that shimmers with silver spells
But all that is short-lived as once more, furor
Of winter wind comes back, peeling back shells
Of green & draping its white coat, unasked
It’s false spring. We all huddle back, hands clasped!
Sources: Poetry Magnum Opus, Shadow Poetry
New to dVerse? Here’s how to join in:
*Write an octave or two or three following the ottavo rima structure in response to the challenge.
*Enter a link directly to your poem and your name by clicking Mr. Linky below
and remember to check the little box to accept the use/privacy policy.
*You will find links to other poets and more will join so please do check
back later in order to read their poems.
*Read and comment on other poets’ work–we all come here to have our poems read.
*Please link back to dVerse from your site/blog.
paeansunplugged said:
Hi Grace. That’s an interesting form. I love your poem. I think this year spring is enjoying toying with us.
Thanks for hosting.
Grace said:
Hi Punam. Definitely nature is playing tricks on us with our crazy weather. Thank you.
paeansunplugged said:
You are welcome.
Helen said:
Grace this sounds like SO MUCH fun ~~ thank you for hosting and the challenge. May take me a while but I am quite determined. Nothing to drink or nibble on today, need my wits about me.
Grace said:
Hi Helen. Looking forward to reading your poem. Maybe I can entice with some sweet pastries with coffee while writing? Take care!
Grace said:
Hi everyone. I look forward to reading your poems. In the menu are chocolate mousse or, tiramisu with gelato, and sweet ricotta pastries served with hot expressso. It is winter here in Ontario. Here’s hoping your place is warmer than what we have here.
kim881 said:
An interesting form and a tricky challenge. I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone else writes.
Grace said:
Hi Kim. Yes a challenge to stretch our poetic skills. Looking forward to making the rounds in a bit.
Melissa Lemay said:
Hi, Grace! Thanks for hosting. I’ll have chocolate mousse with espresso!☕️
Grace said:
Hi Melissa! Here’s a chocolate mousse with espresso. Hope you had fun with this poetry form challenge.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
My appologies for just reworking an older poem… but it is a fun form, especially if you use the mock heroic version of the same.
Grace said:
Hi Bjorn. Reworking an older poem is fine. And your theme is very relevant too.
Rob Kistner said:
Happy Thursday everyone. Thank you very much for hosting Grace. I’m going to have to sit this one out. This form, interesting though it may be, just is not inspiring my muse. ✌🏼🫶🏼
Grace said:
Hi Rob. Thanks for dropping by. Yes, this is quite a challenging form to do. See you soon!
Rob Kistner said:
I was inspired today to write a new poem, but I will not post it, because it does not satisfy today’s prompt. Here it is>> https://www.image-verse.com/peace-seeker …if you’re curious to read it.
Rob Kistner said:
But alas, I may have written an Ottavo Rima? Or perhaps it’s s hybrid. 🤷🏻
rog said:
hi grace
hi poets
did I see tiramisu on offer oh yes please. num,num num
wow i found that a challenge with a tired work head.
happy world poetry day as the media hee in England keeps shouting at me!
rog
Grace said:
Hi Rog. Yes a tiramisu for our tired work head. Happy World Poetry Day too!
rog said:
Cheers
Truedessa said:
Hi Grace an interesting form. I decided to play along
Grace said:
Thanks for joining in Truedessa. Love your poem!
kittysverses said:
This a lovely prompt, Grace. Thanks for hosting. 🙂
Grace said:
Thank you Kitty for joining in. Hope you had fun with the poetry form. Cheers!
kittysverses said:
Yes I did have, thank you. 🙂
memadtwo said:
This form is a challenge for me. I scrapped the first metered one, and used 11-syllable lines, which worked out better. Thanks for the prompt, Grace. (K)
Grace said:
Your work is wonderful – both the verses and art. Thanks for joining in.
memadtwo said:
Thanks Grace.