Edmund Spenser · English Literature

Which of the following describes the rhyme scheme of a 'Spenserian Sonnet'?

  1. abab cdcd efef gg
  2. abba abba cde cde
  3. abab bcbc cdcd ee
  4. aaaa bbbb cccc dd
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Correct answer: abab bcbc cdcd ee

The Spenserian sonnet uses an interlocking rhyme scheme where the second rhyme of each quatrain becomes the first rhyme of the next. This creates a more cohesive, flowing structure than the Shakespearean form.

Difficulty: Medium Question 10 of 20

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