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O February! Month to write an ode!
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O February! Month to write an ode! |
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Local Parasite
since 2001-11-05
Posts 2527Transylconia, Winnipeg 
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I'll do my very best... heh... but I did have to look some of this up. So You Want To Write An OdeThe Ode is a very friendly form, in that its requirement is primarily focused not on the construction of the stanza but on the organization of stanzas in the poem, the requirement for these stanzas being little more than a personally constructed meter and rhyme scheme. There are two types of odes based on the classical poets Pindar and Horace, respectively called the Pindaric and Horatian ode. The Pindaric Ode Now I am pretty sure that these were originally written for public events, where they'd be sung by a chorus, but I'm not sure about that. What the Pindaric Ode uses is a three-stanza structure that is repeated throughout the poem. The first two stanzas, the strophe and the antistrophe both use an identical meter and rhyme scheme, but the third stanza, the epode, uses a unique form from these two. Throughout the poem the strophe and antistrophe repeat the same form, and the epode repeats the same stanza form as the previous epodes. A good example would be Ben Jonson's pindaric ode, found here, but it's not necessary for stanzas to be as long as his are. I realize this is a workshop, so we're really just trying new stuff out, and stanzas of four or five line length would be fine. The Horatian Ode This is an easier one. Horace was a Roman poet who wrote more personal and less broadly-based odes, and so his format seems more personal and individual. All that is necessary to write a Horatian ode is that some stanza format (metered and rhymed) be developed and followed in every succeeding stanza in the poem. So it's similar to the Pindaric ode but without the strophe/antistrophe/epode rules, just a single stanza that is repeated. Irregular Ode Apparently (I just read this somewhere) comes from a misunderstanding of the Pindaric ode format. In this format no particular stanza form is followed but the traditional "themes" of the ode are present, the celebratory tone, the particular subject matter addressed from a personal perspective. There is still rhyme and meter used, but the stanza structures are diverse and disjointed. Stanza Development When developing your stanza, remember what you all probably know already about meter and rhyme from your participation in this workshop. Make sure that each line rhymes with at least one other line. A first stanza might operate best by curiously describing from an outside point of view the subject matter, and then delving further until coming to a more intimate understanding in the final stanza. Developing the Pindaric "unit" one should try to keep a certain unity between the strophe/antistrophe and the epodes, so that the units are each distinct and transist one into the other. The "epode" can differ from the other stanza formats but it is probably a good idea to keep a similar meter and rhyme style, with a subtle variance, or maybe a shortening of line count to have a more pointed effect. Odes can be of any length but traditionally are long rather than short. I think that in this workshop we could happily function with Pindaric odes a length of three units or more, or Horatian odes of four stanzas or more (maybe less if the stanzas are on the larger side, more if on the smaller side). Line lengths do not need to be consistent throughout a single stanza, but if they are inconsistent, then those inconsistencies must be maintained in stanzas following that format. If anybody doesn't understand this, please ask me in a reply, because I feel like I'm unclear. Subject Matter The subject matter of the ode tends to be celebratory, and of a particular subject matter or personage (ode to my sister, ode on a box of crayons, &c). Keep in mind when titling your odes, that typically an ode "to" something is written as address, with second-person reference (a "You" entity and an "I" entity). An ode "on" something is more detached and written with third person reference to the subject matter. Again, if you want to stay traditional, Pindaric odes best celebrate something of public importance, where Horatian odes are more personally inclined---but even the great Romantics are guilty of wandering from these traditions a little, so it's not set in stone at all. Some techniques that might come in handy Apostrophe: Directly addressing a non-human or absent figure as though they were human or present. This is a good way to get started if you're stumped for a first line. Such as "O cheese stain! Had I but a drop of bleach," etc, etc, etc. Personification: Speaking of something as though it were a human figure or had human characteristics, attributing thought, will and/or intent to inanimate objects. "The torrent beat me back with anger," or "The sunset smiled at me," something like that. Thanks for playing, and good luck!http://www.livejournal.com/~new_formalism |
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| © Copyright 2004 Brian James Lee - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Munda Member Elite
since 1999-10-08
Posts 3544The Hague, The Netherlands |
This looks like a real challenge. I think I'm going to try a Horatian Ode, but not before I've read a couple to get the feel of it!  |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
oops... I thought this WAS an ode. Well, it looks like we're all on the same track. I'm taking this to Prairie Inkwells too, so hopefully we'll be full of odes, soon enough! Thanks, Brian! |
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Dr.Moose1 Member Elite
since 1999-09-05
Posts 3448Bewilderment , USA |
Local, Sorry for the abbreviation. Your explanation is well worded and points out all the basics. By using this, and a few examples, I'm reasonably sure I just might be able to pull this off. Welcome aboard (or back), this looks to be an educational month. Doc |
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Local Parasite
since 2001-11-05
Posts 2527Transylconia, Winnipeg |
Thanks for the encouraging words. Good luck, you guys! Hopefully we'll have some nice odes for Valentine's day. |
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Bridget Shenachie Senior Member
since 2002-01-23
Posts 1056Kansas USA |
LP-- Thanks for the information on odes. This is a great challenge to write a celebratory poem as winter is winding down. "Nuff already." Will give it a go... Shenachie |
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