Elements of Poetry: Structure and Forms

[Pages:31]Elements of Poetry:

Structure and Forms

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Lines

May be short or long. Are NOT necessarily complete

sentences or even complete thoughts! The arrangement of lines, spacing,

and whether or not the lines rhyme in some manner, can define the FORM of a poem.

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Stanza

A group of lines whose rhyme scheme is usually followed throughout the poem.

A division in poetry like a paragraph in prose.

Common stanza patterns include couplets, triplets, quatrains, etc.

Free-verse poems follow no rules regarding where to divide stanzas.

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And now several forms of poetry...

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Couplet

Two lines that rhyme. A complete idea is usually

expressed in a couplet, or in a long poem made up of many couplets. Couplets may be humorous or serious.

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Couplet continued...

Twinkle, twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are, Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky.

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Narrative Poems

Tell a story. It is a story told in verse, by a speaker or narrator.

There is a plot ... something happens;

because of this, something else happens.

Can be true or fictional. Poems vary in treatment of character

and setting. Forms of narrative poetry include:

ballad epic

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Narrative Poems: Ballad

A narrative, rhyming poem or song.

Characterized by short stanzas and simple words, usually telling a heroic and/or tragic story (although some are humorous).

Can be long.

Usually rich with imagery

(emotionally charged visual images).

Originated from folk songs that told exciting or dramatic stories.

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