In the structural anatomy of a sonnet, what does the Italian term 'volta' signify?
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Correct answer: The rhetorical turn or shift in thought between structural sections
The volta, or 'turn,' is a vital structural and psychological pivot in a sonnet. In Petrarchan sonnets, it typically occurs at line 9, marking the transition from the octave to the sestet. In Shakespearean sonnets, it often appears right before the final couplet at line 13, signaling a shift from exploration to a sharp, witty conclusion.
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