Volta

Definition

In poetry, volta refers to the shift in tone, topic, perspective, or emotion that occurs at some point within a poem. It marks a change in direction and adds complexity to the overall meaning of the poem.

Related terms

Sonnet:

A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and structure.

Meter:

The rhythmic pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry.

Enjambment:

The continuation of a sentence or thought from one line of poetry to the next without punctuation.