Which of the following do Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets have in common?

A. rhyme scheme
B. length
C. question and answer format
D. Both are organized as an octet and a sestet

I Chose Answer B. length. I wanted someone to check my answer to see if it was correct. Thank you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrarchan_sonnet

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet#English_.28Shakespearean.29_sonnet

Let us know if you change your mind or not.

A. rhyme scheme

Because of the structure of Italian, the rhyme scheme of the Petrarchan sonnet is more easily fulfilled in that language than in English. The original Italian sonnet form divides the poem's 14 lines into two parts, the first part being an octet and the second being a sestet.

When English sonnets were introduced by Thomas Wyatt in the early 16th century, his sonnets and those of his contemporary the Earl of Surrey were chiefly translations from the Italian of Petrarch and the French of Ronsard and others. While Wyatt introduced the sonnet into English, it was Surrey who gave it a rhyming meter, and a structural division into quatrains of a kind that now characterize the typical English sonnet.

Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets share more than one common feature. While both sonnet forms do have a specific length, with 14 lines each, this is not the only similarity between the two. Answer B is partially correct, as both sonnet types have the same length, but there are also other shared characteristics.

One of the main similarities is the use of a rhyme scheme. In both Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets, the lines follow a specific pattern of end rhymes. Petrarchan sonnets typically have an ABBAABBA CDECDE or ABBAABBA CDCDCD rhyme scheme, while Shakespearean sonnets follow an ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme.

Furthermore, both sonnet types share a division or structure within the poem. Petrarchan sonnets typically have a division between the first eight lines (octet) and the last six lines (sestet), while Shakespearean sonnets are organized into three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and one rhymed couplet.

In conclusion, the correct answer would be D. Both Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets are organized as an octet and a sestet, as well as having a specific rhyme scheme and length.

To check if your answer is correct, we need to compare the characteristics of Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets.

Petrarchan sonnets, also known as Italian sonnets, are composed of 14 lines with a specific rhyme scheme. The rhyme scheme of a Petrarchan sonnet typically follows the pattern ABBA ABBA CDE CDE, although variations can occur within this structure. This means the first and second quatrains (sets of four lines) have different rhymes, while the sestet (the final six lines) can have various rhyme schemes.

Shakespearean sonnets, also known as English sonnets, also consist of 14 lines. However, their rhyme scheme is different from Petrarchan sonnets. Shakespearean sonnets follow the pattern ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, where each quatrain has a distinct rhyme and the final couplet (two lines) has a separate rhyme.

Now let's analyze the answer choices in light of these characteristics:

A. Rhyme scheme: Both Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets have a specific rhyme scheme, but the patterns are different.

B. Length: Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets have the same length, consisting of 14 lines. This is the correct answer choice.

C. Question and answer format: This format is not an inherent characteristic of sonnets in general, so it is not a common element of Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets.

D. Both are organized as an octet and a sestet: While the Petrarchan sonnet is divided into octet (the first eight lines) and sestet (the final six lines), the Shakespearean sonnet follows the structure of three quatrains and a concluding couplet, rather than octet and sestet.

Based on this analysis, your answer that B. length is the common characteristic is correct. Petrarchan and Shakespearean sonnets share the same length of 14 lines, even though their rhyme schemes differ.