Petrarchism

Petrarchism is a literary style named after the Italian poet Petrarch, characterized by the idealization of love and the expression of personal, often unrequited feelings. It emphasizes themes like longing, melancholy, and admiration for an unattainable beloved. The style typically features sonnets and reflects a refined, introspective approach to love poetry. Petrarchism influenced European literature by shaping how poets explore passionate emotions and aesthetic beauty, establishing conventions that many future writers adopted, particularly in the Renaissance and beyond.