ottava
9.6
A group of eight lines used in Italian poetry
- noun
- /oʊˈtɑːvə/
- Literature
:
octava
- An ottava rima stanza may possess the same complex and self-reflexive beauty as a lyric form such as the sonnet.
- ottava rima
Examples
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When the little boxes, or rooms, into which it is divided are standard forms, such as ottava rima or rhyme-royal, another effect is also evident: the divisions all have the same size and shape.
Academic text (2003) -
Forgive me if this letter is not ottava rima.
Fiction book (1996) -
The poem was beautifully crafted in ottava, showcasing the elegance of its eight-line structure.
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Many classic Italian poems are written in ottava, highlighting the form's rhythmic beauty.
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In her analysis, she described how each ottava contributes to the overall theme of the poem.
Compounds
ottava rima
- Literature
9.9
A group of eight lines in a poem with rhyme pattern abababcc used in long poems
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word ottava comes from the Italian otto 'eight', the same idea behind the English words octave and octagon. So an ottava stanza has eight lines.
