English Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

What kind of literary form is "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" by Christopher Marlowe?

1. Sonnet

2. Ballad

3. Epic

4. Ode

The correct answer is: Ode

"The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" is not a sonnet, which is a 14-line poem with strict rhyme scheme and meter. It also lacks a narrative structure and is not a story or a song, ruling out it being a ballad. It is not an epic, which is a long narrative poem typically used to celebrate heroic deeds and important events. While it could be argued to have some elements of a love epic, it is not long enough to qualify as one. Therefore, the best literary form for "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" is an ode, which is a lyrical poem that expresses deep feelings and praises a person, object, or abstract concept. This form fits the nature of the poem well, as it is a passionate declaration of love and a celebration of the joys of nature.