Structure And Form

Question 1

sonnet

Answer 1

typically consists of 14 lines written in iambic pentameter, which means each line has ten syllables with a stress on every second syllable.

Question 2

free verse

Answer 2

type of poetry that does not follow a specific or predetermined structure or rhyme scheme

Question 3

ballad

Answer 3

A ballad is a form of narrative poetry that tells a story through verse. It has its roots in traditional folk songs and has been passed down orally through generations. Ballads often focus on themes such as love, tragedy, heroism, or the supernatural

Question 4

rhyme scheme

Answer 4

refers to the pattern of rhyme that is used in a poem. It is the arrangement of rhyming words or sounds at the end of lines.

Question 5

meter

Answer 5

pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of verse. It is the rhythmic structure or arrangement of poetic feet within a line.

Question 6

line length

Answer 6

Short or long

Question 7

stanza structure

Answer 7

Stanzas are separated from each other by white space, indicating a visual break and allowing for pauses or shifts in the poem’s content or tone. Different poems may have varying stanza structures, depending on the poet’s intentions and the overall form and style of the poem.

Question 8

Consider how these choices affect the flow, rhythm, and overall impact of the poem.

Question 9

Mood and tone

Answer 9

Examine the poet’s tone and the emotional atmosphere created by the poem. Is it somber, joyful, melancholic, or satirical? How does the tone contribute to the poem’s message or the reader’s interpretation?

Question 10

octave

Answer 10

a set of eight lines

Question 11

sestet

Answer 11

A set of six lines

Question 12

the Italian/Petrarchan sonnet

Answer 12

This type of sonnet is divided into two parts—a set of eight lines called an octave and a set of six lines called a sestet. The octave usually presents a problem, a question, or a situation, while the sestet offers a resolution, an answer, or a reflection.

Question 13

The rhyme scheme of the Italian sonnet is typically ABBAABBA for the octave, followed by various rhyme patterns such as CDCDCD, CDECDE, or CDDCDD for the sestet.

Question 14

English/Shakespearean Sonnet

Answer 14

This type of sonnet is divided into three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a concluding couplet (a two-line stanza). The quatrains often present different aspects of a theme or build up an argument, while the couplet delivers a concluding statement, a twist, or a resolution.

The rhyme scheme of the English sonnet is typically ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

Question 15

quatrains

Answer 15

four-line stanzas

Question 16

Couplet

Answer 16

a two-line stanza

Question 17

Both types of sonnets usually explore themes of love, beauty, mortality, nature, or philosophical ideas. They often employ various poetic techniques such as metaphors, similes, alliteration, and imagery to convey complex emotions and ideas within the confined structure of the sonnet.

Question 18

Tercet

Answer 18

A stanza consisting of three lines.

Question 19

Stressed syllable

Answer 19

stressed syllables are the ones that receive emphasis or are spoken with more force. They typically stand out more prominently in the line’s rhythm.

Question 20

Trochaic meter

Answer 20

Consists of two syllables per foot, with the first syllable stressed (or heavy) and the second syllable unstressed (or light). Example: “HEL-lo”

Question 21

Anapestic meter

Answer 21

Consists of three syllables per foot, with the first two syllables unstressed (or light) and the third syllable stressed (or heavy). Example: “un-der-STAND-ing”

Question 22

volta

Answer 22

refers to a shift or turn in thought, tone, or emotion within a poem. It is a point of change or transition that often occurs between different sections or stanzas of a poem. The volta can be seen as a moment of surprise, contrast, or resolution that adds complexity and depth to the overall structure and meaning of the poem.

Question 23

Half rhymes