SONNET – MCQS
Sonnets Characteristics, Types, Petrarchan Sonnet, Shakespearean Sonnet
Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on Sonnets:
Given below are important questions on Sonnets and the answer is written in bold.
- Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a sonnet? a) It consists of 14 lines b) It follows a specific rhyme scheme c) It is written in free verse d) It often explores themes of love, beauty, and mortality
- In a Shakespearean sonnet, how many quatrains are there? a) One b) Two c) Three d) Four
- What is the typical rhyme scheme of a Petrarchan sonnet’s octave? a) ABBAABBA b) ABABCDCDEFEFGG c) CDCDCD d) ABCABC
- The volta in a sonnet refers to a) The last line of the poem b) The title of the poem c) The turn or shift in the poem’s theme or argument d) The opening line of the poem
- Which poet is famous for popularizing the Petrarchan sonnet form? a) William Shakespeare b) John Milton c) Francesco Petrarch d) Dante Alighieri
- The rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet’s final couplet is:- a) AABB b) CCDDEE c) GG d) ABAB
- Which of the following is a variation of the Shakespearean sonnet form? a) Spenserian sonnet b) Miltonic sonnet c) Petrarchan sonnet d) Italian sonnet
- What distinguishes the sestet from the octave in a Petrarchan sonnet? a) The sestet has more lines b) The octave has a different rhyme scheme c) The sestet usually provides resolution or commentary d) The octave comes after the sestet
- Which sonnet form combines elements of both the Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets? a) Spenserian sonnet b) Miltonic sonnet c) Italian sonnet d) English sonnet
- What role does the volta play in a sonnet? a) It signals the end of the poem b) It introduces a new character c) It signifies the turn or shift in the poem’s theme or argument d) It provides a summary of the poem’s main ideas
- Who is known for writing a collection of sonnets primarily dedicated to his unrequited love for a woman named Laura? a) William Shakespeare b) Petrarch c) Elizabeth Barrett Browning d) Dante Alighieri
- Which poet wrote a sequence of 44 sonnets titled “Sonnets from the Portuguese” during her courtship with Robert Browning?
a) William Shakespeare b) Petrarch
c) Elizabeth Barrett Browning d) Dante Alighieri - Whose sonnets express admiration and spiritual devotion to his beloved Beatrice?
a) William Shakespeare b) Petrarch
c) Elizabeth Barrett Browning d) Dante Alighieri - Who wrote a series of sonnets titled “Amoretti,” chronicling his courtship and eventual marriage to his wife?
a) William Shakespeare b) Petrarch
c) Elizabeth Barrett Browning d) Edmund Spenser - Which poet’s sonnets are often believed to be addressed to a young man and a mysterious dark-haired woman?
a) William Shakespeare b) Petrarch
c) Elizabeth Barrett Browning d) Dante Alighieri - Whose sonnets explore themes of love, beauty, and the passage of time?
a) William Shakespeare b) Petrarch
c) Elizabeth Barrett Browning d) Milton - Which poet is associated with the phrase “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” from his sonnets?
a) William Shakespeare b) Petrarch
c) John Milton d) Edmund Spenser - Whose sonnets celebrate the virtues and beauty of his beloved wife, Elizabeth Boyle?
a) William Shakespeare b) Petrarch
c) Robert Browning d) Edmund Spenser - Whose collection of sonnets is titled “Canzoniere” or “Rime Sparse”?
a) William Shakespeare b) Petrarch
c) Elizabeth Barrett Browning d) Dante Alighieri - Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnets express deep love and devotion to whom?
a) William Shakespeare b) Petrarch
c) Robert Browning d) Edmund Spenser - How many lines are there in Sestet? a) One b) Two c) Six d) Four
- How many lines are there in Quatrain?
a) One b) Two c) Four d) Three