Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

What is a sonnet?

1. A fourteen-line poem with a rhyme scheme of ABAB.

2. A twelve-line poem with a rhyme scheme of ABBC.

3. A twenty-five line poem with a rhyme scheme of AABB.

4. A twenty-four line poem with a rhyme scheme of AAAB.

The correct answer is: A fourteen-line poem with a rhyme scheme of ABAB.

A sonnet is a type of poem that traditionally consists of fourteen lines with a specific rhyme scheme. Option A has the correct description of a sonnet with the rhyming pattern of ABAB, while the other options have varying line and rhyme structures that do not fit the definition of a sonnet. For example, option B has twelve lines instead of fourteen, and options C and D have rhyme schemes that do not match the traditional pattern of a sonnet. Therefore, A is the best answer that accurately describes a sonnet.