What sonnet form does the poem 'I, being born a woman and distressed' follow?

• A. Shakespearean
• B. Spenserian
• C. Italian Sonnet
• D. Petrarchan

Answer: (D)

This poem is in the Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet form. The defining feature is its two-part structure: an octave (the first eight lines) that sets up a problem or situation, followed by a sestet (the last six lines) that offers a response, reflection, or resolution. The turn, or volta, typically appears after the octave, signaling a shift in thought from distress or complaint to contemplation or acceptance. This division into octave and sestet, along with the sonnet’s overall 14-line length, distinguishes it from other forms like the Shakespearean, which relies on three quatrains plus a final couplet, or the Spenserian, which interlocks rhymes. The line about being born a woman and distressed signals the setup of a Petrarchan speaker and scene, making the form a natural fit.