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August Workshop: Canaanite/Hebrew Poetry
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August Workshop: Canaanite/Hebrew Poetry |
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jbouder Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash 
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CANAANITE/HEBREW POETRY I’ve been doing some research recently and came across a fascinating analysis of a style of poetry that is older than both the oldest English and the oldest known Greek verse: Canaanite or Hebrew poetry. Examples of this form of poetry are “The Book of Job”, The Psalms and the love poem, “Song of Songs” (just incase you were wondering). Don’t worry ... learning ancient Hebrew or any of the ancient Canaanite dialects is not a prerequisite for taking part in this month’s workshop.  Because of the versatility of Hebrew poetry, I think this style of writing will be equally favorable to people who prefer verse to those who prefer free verse. Canaanite and Hebrew poetry has the following characteristics: PRIMARY CHARACTERISTICS: 1. Rhythm: The rhythm in Hebrew poetry is usually comprised by a fixed number of stresses (or accented beats) but, unlike English verse, does not require a fixed number of syllables. Most often, there will be three stressed syllables in a line matched by another three in the following line to form a couplet (two lines of poetry that form a unit in a poem). You can vary this pattern in several ways: (1) the couplets can occasionally be longer than three stresses per line; (2) a triplet (three lines of poetry that form a single unit in a poem) can be used instead of a couplet; (3) or the couplet may have a three-beat line answered by a two-beat second line (the two-beat line is usually used in taunts or laments). It is not unusual for one line to have seven or more syllables and the following line have only three or four. Again, it is the number of stresses, rather than the number of syllables, that is important. 2. Parallelism: A hallmark of Canaanite and Hebrew poetry is parallelism: the echoing of a thought of one line of verse in a second, partner line. There are many varieties of parallelisms: (1) a virtual repetition of the preceding line; (2) amplification of the idea expressed/described in the preceding line; (3) or an antithesis (opposite) of the idea in the preceding line. Some examples from some of my stuff: quote: quote: The use of parallelism gives the reader some time to chew on what is being said, allowing the thought to hit home. Because this style of poetry emphasizes meaning over strict rhythm, all of you who become world renown poets published in dozens of languages can rest assured that your poetry written in this style will not lose all of its effect. 3. Theme: Just as it is true with most English poetry, the development of the theme is critical. The tension of your theme should build as you move toward your resolution. SECONDARY CHARACTERISTICS: In the original languages, Canaanite and Hebrew poetry often used other poetic devises: (1) Assonance – the use of relatively similar vowel sounds in a line or lines (fade/gate); (2) Rhyme – no need for a definition here; (3) Refrains – a phrase or line repeated verbatim throughout the poem, usually at regular intervals; (4) Word-plays – again, no need for a definition; (5) Acrostics – The first letters (usually) of the lines in a poem form a message. These are all secondary to the Canaanite/Hebrew styles of poetry so feel free to select from some, all or none of them. Also, feel free to experiment and be creative. This style offers plenty of room for creativity and flexibility. Hope you all have fun! Jim [This message has been edited by jbouder (edited 08-09-2000).] |
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Sudhir Iyer Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943Mumbai, India : now in Belgium |
Jim, I went completely overboard with my poem as you can see in this forum... but maybe it still fits...  does it??? if not, I will try another... regards, sudhir P.S. maybe I will still try another... |
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jbouder Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash |
What are you ... psychic?  It certainly has many of the common characteristics but it is a little light on the parallelism. I won't let that impact your grade if you don't want to write another one ... it IS a great poem! Feel free to write another if you like. There is still plenty of time in August. Jim |
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Sudhir Iyer Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943Mumbai, India : now in Belgium |
Jim psychic   - Of, relating to, affecting, or influenced by the human mind or psyche; - Capable of extraordinary mental processes, such as extrasensory perception and mental telepathy and (grin like mad and spin like a crazy nut and do this ) he he the only idea to really emphasize in that was the discovery of the EXOTIC things a MAN and an ANT (end??) MAN or ANT who came first?  regards, Sudhir. P.S. If you happen to venture out to dark passions, read a poem titled "WELCOME..." and then lets see if you want to come home to that place....  ... where the psyched out live...oops by the way thanks a great load for all the information and .... for the promise of the grades [This message has been edited by Sudhir Iyer (edited 08-09-2000).] |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
A question: Would this form qualify as blank verse? |
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jbouder Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash |
serenity: Technically, blank verse is written in non-rhyming iambic pentameter (ten syllables per line accented "da-DUM/da-DUM/da-DUM/da-DUM/da-DUM"). I took the liberty of adding an accented syllable to be beginning of some of these lines for effect but, besides that, here is an example of what I mean: quote: The meter in Canaanite/Hebrew poetry can be regular or varied ... but it usually has 3 (sometimes two or four) stressed syllables. So it is possible that a couplet written in this form could be written: quote: In this case, the first line would have seven syllables (three stressed) and the second four syllables (three stressed). Again, the number of stresses is emphasized rather than the number of syllables. Do you understand the difference now? Jim [This message has been edited by jbouder (edited 08-11-2000).] |
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StarrGazer Senior Member
since 2000-03-05
Posts 679Texas |
geez wonder how many trees I'm going to kill trying to write this lol (oh yeah that is what a computer is for hehe) will definitely work on this and see what I can come up with though sounds like fun !! |
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jbouder Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash |
*poof* Back to the top. |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
Oh man...and I thought August's theme was Erotica....oops, my mistake |
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jbouder Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash |
Having read "Song of Songs", I see no reason why it can't be an erotica exotica. |
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Alle'cram Senior Member
since 2000-02-28
Posts 1816Texas |
Jim, (don't worry, be happy-just one question); I started picking up from many days ago, but found a lot of interest in this particular area & have one verse to give you. If you would, take my thoughts and correctly word the verse, please (showing me the stressed syllables). My theme for the poem (to be)- from rags to riches or from the lowest of jobs to the most powerful- shephard boy (David) to King David. Here is a thought that I put down, take it and show me what needs to happen. ------------------------------------------- Saul, King of Israel, ruler of the land, choice of the people, God granted their command. Give us a King to rule all over our land! Man's desires...wanting a king. God's love for His people, gave the best they had. God was grevious for having made Saul a king! -------------------------------- then two more lines, etc. one line two lines Thanks in advance for looking at this for me. Marcy [This message has been edited by Alle'cram (edited 08-16-2000).] |
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