poetry writing Archive

What is an Octave?

Definition of Octave Octave in poetry can be defined as, “An octave is a verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter (in English poetry) or  hendecasyllables (in case of Italian poetry)”. or “Any stanza in

What is a Cinquain?

Definition of Cinquain Cinquain can be defined as, “Any short poem consisting of five, usually unrhymed lines containing, respectively, two, four, six, eight, and two syllables.” History and Origin The cinquain form was invented by the American

What is a Quatrain?

Definition of Quatrain Quatrain can be defined as, A poem, unit or stanza of four lines of verse, usually with a rhyme scheme of abab or its variant, xbyb”. or “The rhyming four‐line groups that make up

What is a Tercet?

Definition of Tercet A unit or group of three lines of verse which are rhymed together or have a rhyme scheme that interlaces with an adjoining tercet. or “A group of three lines of verse, often rhyming

What is a Couplet?

Definition of a Couplet A couplet can be defined as, “Two successive lines of verse forming a unit marked usually by rhythmic correspondence, rhyme, length or the inclusion of a self-contained utterance”. or “A unit of verse

What is Terza Rima?

Definition of Terza Rima Terza Rima can be defined as, “A verse form of Italian origin consisting of tercets of 10 or 11 syllables with the middle line rhyming with the first and third lines of the

What is Onegin Stanza?

Definition of Onegin Stanza Onegin Stanza can be defined as, “A stanza form having 14 lines of iambic tetrameter with the rhyming scheme ababccddeffegg”. This stanza form is unique in character since it implicates a masculine/feminine rhyming

What is a Balassi Stanza?

Definition of Balassi Stanza Balassi Stanza can be defined as, “A stanza or verse form, consisting of nine line, with syllable counts 667667667. The rhyming structure for a Balassi Stanza is bbaccadda”. History and Origin The Balassi

What is a Spenserian Stanza?

Definition of Spenserian Stanza The Spenserian Stanza can be defined as, “A stanza and verse form consisting of nine lines where the first eight lines are in iambic pentameter  while the last line, known as ‘Alexandrine’ line

What is Sicilian Octave?

Definition of Sicilian Octave The  Sicilian Octave can be defined as, “A verse or stanza form consisting of eight lines of eleven syllables each (known as hendecasyllable) with rhyming scheme abababab. The form is common in late