Poetry comes in many shapes and sizes. Traditional forms like sonnets, haikus, and villanelles have specific rules for structure and rhyme. These forms have been used for centuries to express deep emotions and ideas in compact, musical ways.

Understanding these forms helps us appreciate the craft of poetry. We'll look at how poets use elements like meter, rhyme schemes, and imagery to create powerful effects. These tools can inspire our own writing too.

Traditional Poetic Forms

Sonnet

• Originated in Italy during the 13th century and popularized by poets like Petrarch and Shakespeare
• Consists of 14 lines typically written in iambic pentameter with a specific rhyme scheme
• Two main types are Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet and Shakespearean (English) sonnet
• Petrarchan sonnet has an octave (8 lines) followed by a sestet (6 lines) with a rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA CDECDE or ABBAABBA CDCDCD
• Shakespearean sonnet has three quatrains (4 lines each) and a couplet (2 lines) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
• Often explores themes of love, beauty, mortality, and the human condition (Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?")

Haiku

• Traditional Japanese poetic form that originated in the 17th century
• Consists of three unrhymed lines with a syllable pattern of 5-7-5
• Often focuses on nature, seasons, and capturing a moment or feeling in a concise way
• Juxtaposes two images or ideas to create a sense of enlightenment or surprise
• Emphasizes simplicity, directness, and economy of language (Matsuo Bashō's "The old pond, a frog jumps in: the sound of water")

Villanelle

• Fixed verse form that originated in France during the 16th century
• Consists of 19 lines divided into five tercets (3 lines each) and a concluding quatrain (4 lines)
• Follows a strict rhyme scheme and repetition pattern with two refrains (repeated lines)
• First and third lines of the first stanza alternate as the last lines of the following stanzas and form the final couplet
• Rhyme scheme: ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA ABAA
• Often explores themes of obsession, loss, and the cyclical nature of life and death (Dylan Thomas' "Do not go gentle into that good night")

Structure and Meter

Iambic Pentameter and Rhyme Scheme

• Iambic pentameter is a common metrical pattern in English poetry consisting of five iambs (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable) per line
• Creates a natural rhythm that mimics the cadence of spoken English ("Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?")
• Rhyme scheme refers to the pattern of rhymes at the end of each line in a poem or stanza
• Helps create a sense of structure, unity, and musicality in the poem
• Common rhyme schemes include ABAB (alternating rhymes), AABB (couplets), and ABBA (enclosed rhyme)

Stanza Structure: Quatrain and Tercet

• Quatrain is a stanza of four lines, often with a specific rhyme scheme (ABAB, AABB, or ABBA)
• Commonly used in various poetic forms, including sonnets, ballads, and hymns
• Tercet is a stanza of three lines, often with a rhyme scheme of ABA or AAA
• Frequently employed in poetic forms like villanelles, terza rima, and haiku

Volta

• Italian term meaning "turn" or "shift," referring to a significant change in tone, theme, or perspective within a poem
• Often occurs around the middle of the poem, signaling a pivot or development in the poem's narrative or argument
• In Petrarchan sonnets, the volta typically appears between the octave and sestet, while in Shakespearean sonnets, it often occurs in the final couplet

Poetic Devices

Syllable Count and Repetition

• Syllable count refers to the number of syllables in each line of a poem, which can contribute to the poem's rhythm and structure
• Some poetic forms, like haiku and villanelle, have specific syllable count requirements
• Repetition involves the deliberate use of words, phrases, or lines multiple times throughout a poem
• Creates emphasis, reinforces themes, and adds musicality to the poem
• Examples include anaphora (repetition of words at the beginning of lines) and epistrophe (repetition of words at the end of lines)

Imagery and Metaphor

• Imagery refers to the use of vivid, descriptive language that appeals to the reader's senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch)
• Helps create a clear, immersive picture in the reader's mind and evokes emotions or associations ("The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes" - T.S. Eliot)
• Metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things by stating that one is the other, without using "like" or "as"
• Reveals hidden similarities, creates new meanings, and adds depth to the poem ("All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players" - Shakespeare)

Alliteration

• Repetition of initial consonant sounds in a series of words or phrases
• Creates a rhythmic, musical effect that can emphasize certain words or ideas
• Helps make the language more memorable and engaging for the reader
• Examples include "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers" and "The soul selects her own society" (Emily Dickinson)