Final answer:
An Italian or Petrarchan sonnet consists of 14 lines, with the first part being an octave (eight lines) that follows an abbaabba rhyme scheme, and the second part being a sestet (six lines) with varying rhyme patterns. The correct answer is an octave and a sestet.
Step-by-step explanation:
Italian / Petrarchan Sonnet Structure
An Italian sonnet, also known as a Petrarchan sonnet, is a form of poetry that consists of 14 lines and is structurally divided into two parts:
- An octave (a stanza of eight lines) that typically follows the rhyme scheme abbaabba.
- A sestet (a stanza of six lines) where the rhyme scheme can vary, but does not finish in a couplet as in the Shakespearean sonnet.
The octave usually presents a problem, argument, or situation, and the sestet provides a resolution or commentary. The transition between these two sections is known as the volta, and it signifies a shift in thought. Therefore, the correct answer to the composition of an Italian / Petrarchan sonnet is (a) An octave and a sestet.
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