Sonnets Flashcard

Front

How many syllables are there per line in a sonnet?

Back

10 syllables per line.

Front

What is the rhyme scheme of syllables per line called?

Back

Iambic Pentameter.

Front

How many 'feet' make up iambic pentameter?

Back

5 feet (one stressed & one unstressed syllable).

Front

What is the rhyme scheme of the Italian sonnet?

Back

abba abba cde cde.

Front

What is a Spenserian Sonnet?

Back

A type of sonnet that consists of three quatrains and a couplet, with an interlocking rhyme scheme of abab bcbc cdcd ee.

Front

What is a sonnet?

Back

A 14-line poem typically written in iambic pentameter.

Front

What is the difference between a Shakespearean and an Italian sonnet?

Back

Shakespearean sonnets have a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg, while Italian sonnets have a rhyme scheme of abba abba cde cde.

Front

What is a quatrain?

Back

A stanza of four lines, often with alternating rhymes.

Front

Define 'volta' in the context of a sonnet.

Back

The 'turn' or shift in thought or argument in a sonnet.

Front

What is the significance of iambic pentameter in sonnets?

Back

It creates a rhythmic structure that enhances the musical quality of the poem.