English Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

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Prepare for the English Literature CLEP Test with our comprehensive quiz. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

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What is the meter of Shakespeare’s sonnets?

Iambic tetrameter
Trochaic meter
Anapestic meter
Iambic pentameter

The correct answer is: Iambic pentameter

Shakespeare's sonnets are known for their use of iambic pentameter, a poetic meter that consists of ten syllables per line with an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. This structure creates a rhythmic and musical quality to the sonnets, allowing them to be read aloud more smoothly and with a lyrical flow. Option A, iambic tetrameter, is incorrect as it refers to a four-syllable meter as opposed to the ten-syllable meter found in Shakespeare's sonnets. Option B, trochaic meter, is also incorrect as it consists of one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable, which does not match the structure of iambic pentameter. Option C, anapestic meter, is incorrect as it consists of three syllables with two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable