English Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

What does Petrarchan poetry focus on?

1. Nature

2. Death

3. Love

4. War

The correct answer is: Love

Petrarchan poetry is a poetic form that was invented by the Italian poet Francesco Petrarch in the 14th century. It is also known as Italian sonnet or Petrarchan sonnet. This style of poetry focuses on the theme of unrequited love or unattainable love, often expressed through hyperbolic metaphors and imagery. While nature and death may also be used as motifs in Petrarchan poetry, they are not the central focus of this particular poetic style. Similarly, war is a very different subject matter that is not typically explored in Petrarchan poetry. Therefore, the correct answer is C love.