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The Canzone

Fixed Forms of the Romance Tradition

An Italian lyric form of the medieval and Renaissance period, built from several structurally matched stanzas of mixed long and short lines followed by a shorter closing envoi (congedo), used by Dante and Petrarch for their most ambitious philosophical and amorous verse and a direct forerunner of the sonnet's own formal ambitions.

Facts
Place of Origin
Italy, 13th century, associated with the Sicilian School and the dolce stil novo poets. 1
Structure
Multiple stanzas of matching structure combining hendecasyllables and shorter lines, closed by a shorter congedo (envoi) stanza. 1
Notable Example
Dante Alighieri's canzoni in the Vita Nuova and Convivio; Petrarch's Canzoniere. 1
Connections

Associated With

Dolce Stil Novo, Movements

The canzone was the school's other primary vehicle, alongside the sonnet.

Form Of Genre

Lyric Poetry, Genres
Source The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics

Influenced

The Sestina, Forms

Influenced By

The Sonnet, Forms
Source The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics
Sources
1. The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics
Princeton University Press

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