* It evolved from a type of folk song, the "villanella", which was a light, often humorous, song form popular among Italian peasants.
* The first known villanelle was written by Jean de la Fontaine in 1658, though the form wasn't widely adopted until the 19th century.
* English poets like Theodore Roethke and Dylan Thomas popularized the villanelle in the 20th century, leading to its increased use in contemporary poetry.