AP Lit sonnet villanelle and sestina forms key terms
This study set covers key terms and concepts related to sonnets, villanelles, and sestinas, essential for AP Literature exam preparation.
Quiz(64 questions)
1. What defines the structure of a villanelle?
Terms in this Study Set(64)
Sonnets(16)
What is a sonnet?
A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and meter, often iambic pentameter.
Define iambic pentameter.
A metrical line containing five feet (iambs), each with an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable.
True or False: All sonnets have the same rhyme scheme.
False - Different types of sonnets (Petrarchan, Shakespearean) have distinct rhyme schemes.
Fill in the blank: A Petrarchan sonnet is also known as a ____ sonnet.
Italian sonnet.
What is the rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet?
ABABCDCDEFEFGG - It consists of three quatrains and a final couplet.
What does the volta signify in a sonnet?
The turn or shift in argument or theme, typically occurring between the octave and sestet in Petrarchan sonnets.
Identify the two parts of a Petrarchan sonnet.
An octave (8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines).
Cause → Effect: Why are sonnets often used for love poetry?
Sonnets' structured form and meter lend themselves to exploring the complexities of love.
Example of a famous sonnet.
'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?' - Sonnet 18 by Shakespeare.
What is a couplet in a sonnet?
A pair of rhymed lines, typically found at the end of a Shakespearean sonnet.
True or False: A sestet can only appear at the end of a sonnet.
True - In a Petrarchan sonnet, the sestet follows the octave.
What is the main theme of many sonnets?
Themes often include love, beauty, time, and mortality.
Compare Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets.
- Petrarchan: ABBAABBA, octave + sestet - Shakespearean: ABABCDCDEFEFGG, three quatrains + couplet.
What is enjambment in poetry?
The continuation of a sentence or clause across a line break, creating a sense of urgency.
Define the term 'sestet'.
A six-line stanza or section in a poem, especially in the context of a sonnet.
Fill in the blank: The English sonnet is also known as the ____ sonnet.
Shakespearean sonnet.
Villanelles(16)
What is a villanelle?
A 19-line poem with five tercets followed by a quatrain. It has a specific rhyme scheme and repeating lines.
What is the rhyme scheme of a villanelle?
ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA ABAA. The first and third lines of the opening tercet alternate as the last lines of the following stanzas.
True or False: A villanelle consists of only two rhymes.
True. The structure features only two rhymes throughout the entire poem.
Name the structure of a villanelle.
5 tercets (ABA) + 1 quatrain (ABAA)
Fill in the blank: In a villanelle, lines ___ and ___ are repeated.
1 and 3. These lines alternate throughout the poem.
What are the repeating lines in a villanelle called?
Refrains. They provide emphasis and thematic unity.
Which famous poet wrote a notable villanelle?
Elizabeth Bishop. Her poem 'One Art' is a well-known example.
Cause → Effect: Why use a villanelle?
To create a sense of obsession or cyclical emotion through repetition.
What is the emotional tone often found in villanelles?
Intense and reflective. The structure can evoke feelings of longing or struggle.
True or False: Villanelles can have any meter.
False. They often use a fixed meter, commonly iambic pentameter.
Compare villanelle and sonnet.
Villanelle: 19 lines, fixed structure, emotional repetition. Sonnet: 14 lines, varying forms, typically explores a theme.
What is the significance of the quatrain in a villanelle?
It concludes the poem and often resolves or reflects on the themes introduced earlier.
Provide an example of a theme commonly explored in villanelles.
Loss and nostalgia. These themes benefit from the repetitive structure.
How many tercets are in a villanelle?
Five tercets. Each follows the ABA rhyme pattern.
What is a common meter used in villanelles?
Iambic pentameter. Each line typically consists of ten syllables.
Define the term 'refrain' in the context of a villanelle.
A line or group of lines repeated at intervals throughout the poem.
Sestinas(16)
What is a sestina?
A sestina is a 39-line poem consisting of six 6-line stanzas followed by a 3-line envoi.
What is the structure of a sestina?
6 stanzas of 6 lines each + 1 envoi of 3 lines.
True or False: Sestinas have a fixed rhyme scheme.
False - Sestinas do not have a fixed rhyme scheme; they rely on word repetition.
Fill in the blank: Sestinas repeat _____ words at the end of each line.
six specific end words.
What is the envoi in a sestina?
A tercet that incorporates the six end words, often addressing the theme directly.
List two key features of sestinas.
- Word repetition - Complex structure (39 lines total)
How many lines does a sestina have?
39 lines in total.
Cause → Effect: Why do sestinas use word repetition?
To create a sense of unity and to explore different meanings of the same words.
What pattern do the end words follow in a sestina?
The end words follow a specific pattern: 1-2-3-4-5-6, 6-1-5-2-4-3, etc.
True or False: Sestinas are often emotional and personal.
True - Sestinas frequently explore deep emotions and personal experiences.
How does the envoi function in a sestina?
It serves to summarize or reflect on the main themes presented in the stanzas.
What themes are commonly found in sestinas?
Love, loss, time, and memory.
Give an example of a famous sestina.
'Sestina' by Elizabeth Bishop is a well-known example.
What is the main challenge when writing a sestina?
Managing the repetition of end words while still creating meaningful and coherent lines.
What role do enjambment and caesura play in a sestina?
They enhance the poem's rhythm and help maintain flow despite strict form.
List one advantage of using a sestina form.
Encourages creativity within a structured format.
Comparative Forms(16)
Sestina vs. Villanelle: Structure?
Sestina: 39 lines, 6 stanzas (6 tercets + 1 quatrain). Villanelle: 19 lines, 5 tercets + 1 quatrain.
Define a tercet.
A tercet is a three-line stanza or poem. Common in both villanelles and sestinas.
True or False: All forms use iambic pentameter.
False - Villanelles and sestinas can use various meter types; sonnets often use iambic pentameter.
Example of repeating lines?
In a villanelle, the first and third lines of the first stanza repeat alternately at the end of each subsequent stanza.
Sestina: Fixed word repetition?
Yes, the last words of each line in the first stanza are repeated in a specific pattern throughout the poem.
Compare themes in sonnets vs. villanelles.
Sonnets often explore love and beauty; villanelles can focus on obsession, loss, or cyclical themes.
Fill in the blank: A __________ is a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme.
Sonnets.
What is the rhyme scheme of a villanelle?
ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA ABAA.
How many lines does a sestina have?
A sestina has 39 lines in total.
True or False: Sestinas always rhyme.
False - Sestinas focus on repetition of words, not necessarily rhyme.
Key feature of a sonnet?
A sonnet typically has a volta, or turn, which shifts the argument or theme.
Contrast: Theme focus of sestinas vs. sonnets.
Sestinas often explore complex emotions through repetition; sonnets focus more on formal themes like love.
What is a quatrain?
A quatrain is a four-line stanza found in many poetic forms, including sonnets.
Compare the emotional tone of a villanelle and a sestina.
Villanelles can convey urgency and tension; sestinas often express deep contemplation or nostalgia.
Define rhyme scheme in sonnets.
Sonnets often follow ABABCDCDEFEFGG for Shakespearean; ABBAABBACDCDCD for Petrarchan.
Compare sonnets, villanelles, and sestinas: key differences?
- Structure: - Sonnet: 14 lines, specific rhyme - Villanelle: 19 lines, 5 tercets + 1 quatrain - Sestina: 39 lines, 6 stanzas of 6 lines + 1 tercet - Rhyme: - Sonnet: ABABCDCDEFEFGG - Villanelle: ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA ABAA - Sestina: No fixed rhyme, but pattern of end-words.
Questions in this Study Set(64)
1. What defines the structure of a villanelle?
2. What is the total number of stanzas in a sestina?
3. What is the primary focus of a Shakespearean sonnet?
4. How many stanzas are in a villanelle?
5. Which of the following best describes the rhyme scheme of a villanelle?
6. Which of the following best describes the envoi in a sestina?
7. How many quatrains are in a Shakespearean sonnet?
8. What is a key structural feature of a sestina?
9. True or False: A villanelle can consist of any number of lines.
10. True or False: Sestinas have a predetermined rhyme scheme.
11. What is the typical rhyme scheme of a Petrarchan sonnet?
12. Which of the following is true about sonnets?
13. In a villanelle, which lines are repeated throughout the poem?
14. How many total lines are found in a sestina?
15. What is the term for the shift in theme commonly found in sonnets?
16. What is the rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet?
17. What is the purpose of the refrains in a villanelle?
18. In a sestina, how many specific end words are repeated throughout the poem?
19. Which component of a Petrarchan sonnet comes first?
20. In a villanelle, how do the refrains operate?
21. Which famous work is an example of a villanelle?
22. What is one common theme explored in many sestinas?
23. Fill in the blank: A sonnet is a poem comprised of ____ lines.
24. What defines a tercet?
25. What emotional effect do villanelles often aim to achieve?
26. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a sestina?
27. True or False: The rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet is always the same.
28. True or False: Sestinas must always include rhyme.
29. True or False: A villanelle can be written in free verse.
30. Why do poets use word repetition in a sestina?
31. What characterizes the final two lines of a Shakespearean sonnet?
32. What is a quatrain?
33. What is the role of the quatrain in a villanelle?
34. Which option best describes the pattern of end words in a sestina?
35. Which of the following lines is NOT typically part of a sonnet?
36. Which form typically features a volta?
37. Fill in the blank: A villanelle typically explores themes of ____.
38. Which of the following poets is known for writing a famous sestina?
39. What is the purpose of a sestet in a Petrarchan sonnet?
40. Which of the following best contrasts the emotional tone of a villanelle and a sestina?
41. How many tercets are there in a villanelle?
42. What might be a challenge when writing a sestina?
43. Which type of sonnet is characterized by a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG?
44. Fill in the blank: A __________ is known for its complex interweaving of emotions through repetition.
45. What is a common meter used in villanelles?
46. True or False: Sestinas typically explore lighthearted topics.
47. What is the meter commonly used in sonnets?
48. Which is NOT a characteristic of a villanelle?
49. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a villanelle?
50. What role does enjambment play in a sestina?
51. What is a common theme found in many sonnets?
52. How many lines does a sestina consist of?
53. What defines the term 'refrain' in the context of a villanelle?
54. What does the term 'sestina' derive from?
55. Fill in the blank: The English sonnet is also called the ____ sonnet.
56. Which poetic form typically explores themes of obsession and loss?
57. True or False: Villanelles are often written in a light-hearted tone.
58. How does the structure of a sestina promote creativity?
59. What is enjambment in the context of sonnets?
60. What is the rhyme scheme of a sestina?
61. Which of the following best illustrates the purpose of using a villanelle in poetry?
62. Which of the following is a key feature of the envoi in a sestina?
63. Which of the following statements best describes the rhyme scheme of a Petrarchan sonnet?
64. Which of the following best describes the structure of a sestina?
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