Research Paper on:
Laura Sonnets by Petrarch

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
focus of the love sonnets written by the Italian early Renaissance poet whom the English-speaking world refers to as "Francis Petrarch" (his actual name was Francesco Petrarca). However,  what can be discerned from his poetry is the depth of feeling that Petrarch had for Laura, how this love was the pivotal concern of his life, and how that  love evolved throughout Petrarchs lifetime, changing after Lauras death, but never disappearing from his consciousness. The early sonnets in the "Laura" cycle celebrate his seeing Laura for the first  time. However, even in these early poems, there is a religious element that makes the reader aware that there is something elicit in Petrarchs obsession for Laura, that this  love is forbidden. For example, "It Was the Morning" indicates that Petrarch first saw Laura on Good Friday, the day that the "Sun in pity veiled his glare/ For the  Lords agony" (lines 2-3). However, as indicated by the editors of the Norton Anthology (Mack, et al), elsewhere in sonnet 211, Petrarch specifically states that he met Laura on  April 6, 1327, a Monday. Therefore, Petrarch must have indicated Good Friday for symbolic reasons. This assumption is verified when he immediately equates this occurrence with his "cue in mans  most tragic play" (line 8). Furthermore, he attests that this love is his "constant gate and fountain" of grief" (line 12). This indicates several things. First of all, Petrarch  is not suppose to love Laura. One of the other is married. The student researching this topic may wish to consult a biography on Petrarch to find out the  details. But, whatever, the reason, despite its forbidden nature and the clear indication that Petrarch feels he should feel he should no feel this way, he is fully "stricken" and