______is a subdivision of a poem?

Analyze the question: The question asks which term names a subdivision of a poem, meaning a formal section into which a poem is divided.

Explain the concept:

• A stanza is a group of lines forming a unit within a poem, separated from other groups by a space. It is like a paragraph in prose. Common types are the couplet (2 lines), tercet (3), quatrain (4) and sestet (6).
• A line is the basic unit of a poem, but it is a building block of a stanza, not a major subdivision of the poem.
• A sentence is a grammatical unit found in prose and poetry. It does not describe how a poem is structured.
• Rhyme is a sound device (the matching of end sounds, such as "day" and "say"). It is not a section of a poem.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Look for a term that describes a structural division of a poem.
2. Eliminate rhyme, which is a sound pattern.
3. Eliminate sentence, which is a grammatical unit and does not have to match the poem's layout.
4. Lines make up stanzas, so they are the smaller components rather than the subdivision.
5. Stanza is the standard term for a division of a poem.

Answer: C. stanza

Exam tip: Remember "Stanza is to a poem what a paragraph is to an essay." For JAMB Literature, also learn the related terms: verse (a single line, or loosely a stanza), couplet, quatrain, refrain and rhyme scheme.