Sonnets

There are two types of sonnets...what are they?

• 13-line Sonnet

• Shakespearean Sonnet

• Grecian Sonnet

• Italian Sonnet

• Elizabethan Sonnet

Answer explanation

The two main types of sonnets are the Shakespearean Sonnet, which consists of three quatrains and a couplet, and the Italian Sonnet, which typically has an octave and a sestet. The other options are not recognized sonnet forms.

The repetition of sounds at the end of words is known as

• a stanza

• rhyming

Answer explanation

The repetition of sounds at the end of words is called rhyming. It creates a musical quality in poetry and enhances the overall aesthetic of the text, making 'rhyming' the correct choice over 'a stanza', which refers to a group of lines.

This is another name for the Shakespearean sonnet.

• Italian Sonnet

• Petrarchan Sonnet

• Spenserian Sonnet

• English Sonnet

Answer explanation

The Shakespearean sonnet is also known as the English sonnet. It consists of three quatrains followed by a couplet, distinguishing it from the Italian (Petrarchan) and Spenserian sonnets.

A four line stanza.

• couplet

• refrain

• quatrain

• octave

Answer explanation

A quatrain is a stanza consisting of four lines. In contrast, a couplet has two lines, a refrain is a repeated line or group of lines, and an octave has eight lines. Therefore, the correct answer is quatrain.

The last six lines in a sonnet that answer the question posed in the first eight lines.

• quatrain

• couplet

• octave

• sestet

Answer explanation

The last six lines of a sonnet, known as the sestet, respond to the question posed in the first eight lines (the octave). Therefore, the correct answer is 'sestet'.

A type of sonnet that consists of an octave and a sestet; a break in thought or a turn comes between the two.

• Italian Sonnet

• English Sonnet

• Spenserian Sonnet

• None of the above

Answer explanation

The Italian Sonnet, also known as the Petrarchan Sonnet, consists of an octave followed by a sestet. The shift in thought, or 'turn', occurs between these two sections, distinguishing it from other sonnet forms.

The first eight lines of a sonnet. It usually asks a question that is answered in the last six lines of the poem.

• Octave

• Sestet

• Couplet

• Quatrain

Answer explanation

The first eight lines of a sonnet are called the octave. It typically presents a question or problem, which is then addressed in the following six lines, known as the sestet.

What type of poems are sonnets usually?

• political poems

• tragic poems

• love poems

• comedic poems

Answer explanation

Sonnets are traditionally associated with love, exploring themes of romance and desire. While they can cover various topics, the most famous sonnets, like those by Shakespeare, often focus on love, making 'love poems' the correct choice.

An audible pattern in verse established by the intervals between stressed syllables.

• Rhythm

• Verse

• Free verse

• Tone

Answer explanation

The correct answer is 'Rhythm' because it refers to the audible pattern in verse created by the intervals between stressed syllables, distinguishing it from other options like 'Verse' or 'Tone'.

The Sonnet began in what country

• Italy

• England

• London

• Greece

Answer explanation

The Sonnet originated in Italy during the 13th century, with poets like Petrarch popularizing the form. While it later flourished in England, its beginnings are firmly rooted in Italian literature.