Which Italian literary forms influenced English Renaissance writers?

During the English Renaissance, writers drew significant inspiration from Italian literary forms, which were transmitted to England by figures such as Sir Thomas Wyatt, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, and Sir Philip Sidney. These imported forms were instrumental in the development of Elizabethan literature.123

Key Italian literary forms that influenced English writers include:

• Sonnet: Introduced to England in the 16th century, the Italian sonnet—perfected by Petrarch—became a dominant influence. English poets adapted the form, eventually creating the distinctive English (or Shakespearean) sonnet.23
• Epic: The Italian tradition of chivalric epics, notably works by Ludovico Ariosto, provided a model for English writers.34
• Pastoral: The pastoral mode, exemplified by Jacopo Sannazzaro, was another significant import that influenced English genre development.35
• Canzone: This lyrical form was also adopted and adapted by English Renaissance poets.34
• Blank verse: This structural innovation was similarly derived from Italian resources.3

Additionally, the social and literary ideals found in Baldassare Castiglione’s Il cortegiano profoundly shaped the sensibilities of the English court, influencing both the content and style of Elizabethan poetry.34