Analyzing and Interpreting Literature / Unit 9 AIL 0807 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Octave and Sestet
Captions available
The idea
The glossary defines an octave as an eight-line stanza and a sestet as six. In a Petrarchan sonnet the octave sets a problem and the sestet answers it. The rhyme scheme changes at exactly the point the thinking changes, which is why the form survived.
In practice
The octave asks, the sestet answers.
Where people slip
Rhyme and thought change together.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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