Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumPoetic Structure and Form

Read the poem below carefully:

Bright stars above the quiet ocean shine,
And softly light the calm and darkened shore;
The gentle waves repeat a song divine,
That echoes far and lingers evermore.
The night grows cold beneath the silver moon,
While shadows stretch across the silent bay;
The waters sleep within a peaceful swoon,
As breezes brush the fading mist away.

But hark! A sudden thunder shakes the ground,
And raging currents crash against the stone!
No longer quiet is the sea profound,
For nature's fury claims its stormy throne.
The tempest rises with a fierce command,
And sweeps in wrath across the trembling land.

What structural element is demonstrated by the shift in tone and thematic focus introduced at line 9?

  1. voltaAnswer
  2. B
    heroic couplet
  3. C
    rhyme scheme mapping error
  4. D
    caesura

Answer

The structural element demonstrated by the thematic shift at line 9 is the volta.
In sonnet structure, particularly Italian/Petrarchan forms, the turn or transition in thought, mood, or argument between the octave (first 8 lines) and the sestet (last 6 lines) is known as the volta. Line 9 explicitly begins this turn with 'But hark! A sudden thunder...'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structure and line count of the poem.
The poem consists of 14 lines divided into an 8-line section (octave) and a 6-line section (sestet).
Identifying the overall form establishes the framework of a Italian/Petrarchan sonnet structure.
2
Examine line 9 for changes in mood, tone, or thematic direction.
Line 9 introduces a contrast ('But hark! A sudden thunder...') shifting from serene night imagery to turbulent tempest imagery.
A dramatic shift occurring at line 9 in a 14-line sonnet marks the thematic transition.
3
Identify the literary term for this thematic turn.
The turn or transition in a sonnet is termed the volta.
The volta is the standard structural term for the pivotal shift between the octave and sestet.

Key Concept

Volta in Sonnet Structure
Rate this question

Topics

Poetic Structure and Form

More questions from this topic