The eight-line part of a Petrarchan sonnet is the ________?

A. Quatrain
B. Octave
C. Octameter
D. Quartet

Correct Answer:

Option B – Octave

Explanation

The sonnet is split in two groups: the “octave” (of 8 lines) and the “sestet” (of 6 lines), for a total of 14 lines. The octave (the first 8 lines) typically introduces the theme or problem using a rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA