Final answer:
A characteristic of "How Soon Hath Time" that helps us identify it as an Italian (Petrarchan) sonnet is the octave/sestet split. Another identifying characteristic is the use of a specific meter, iambic pentameter.
Step-by-step explanation:
A characteristic of "How Soon Hath Time" that helps us identify it as an Italian (Petrarchan) sonnet is the octave/sestet split. In a Petrarchan sonnet, the poem is divided into two parts: an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). This split is evident in "How Soon Hath Time," where the first eight lines express a thought or question, and the remaining six lines provide a resolution or answer.
Another characteristic that helps us identify it as an Italian sonnet is the use of a specific meter. Petrarchan sonnets traditionally employ iambic pentameter, which consists of lines with ten syllables, arranged in a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. "How Soon Hath Time" adheres to this rhythmic structure, further connecting it to the Italian sonnet form.
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