Volta
A sudden turn, shift, or change in direction within a poem's argument, tone, emotion, or perspective. In sonnets, the volta occurs at a structurally marked point (line 9 in Shakespearean sonnets); in other poems, it is a conceptual turn.
Real World
In Shakespeare's Sonnet 130 ('My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun'), twelve lines mock exaggerated love poetry, then the volta at the couplet — 'And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare' — reverses the entire tone into genuine devotion.
Exam Focus
Pinpoint the exact line where the volta occurs and name the specific shift — e.g. from doubt to certainty, not just 'a change'.
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