Ottava Rima

Literary/ Cultural Context Note

Litencyc Editors (Independent Scholar - Europe)
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  • The Literary Encyclopedia. WORLD HISTORY AND IDEAS: A CROSS-CULTURAL VOLUME.

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A stanza of eight lines of iambic pentameter rhymed

a b a b a b c c

. Used by Italian writers such as Ariosto, it was brought into English writing by Wyatt in the sixteenth century and used to great effect by Byron in

Don Juan.

I want a hero, an uncommon want, When every year and month sends forth a new one, Till after cloying the gazettes with cant, The age discovers he is not the true one. Of such as these I should not care to vaunt; I'll therefore take our ancient friend Don Juan. We all have seen him in the pantomime Sent to the devil somewhat ere his time.

I want a hero, an uncommon want, When every year and month sends forth a new one, Till after cloying the gazettes with cant, The age discovers he is not the true one. Of such as these I should not care to vaunt;…

113 words

Citation: Editors, Litencyc. "Ottava Rima". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 November 2001 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=800, accessed 28 March 2024.]

800 Ottava Rima 2 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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