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Villanelle... It's swell
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Villanelle... It's swell |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA 
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I love it when you guys want to do something we've already done before - It makes my life easier - and I need that right now - Lots of stuff's happening here... Most of it's Mysteria's fault... yep!! So - with her to blame for my taking so long to post this that you had to start without me... The Villanelle - Definitely one of my favorite formats... The lyrical effect of the repetitions really makes the poem sing to you, doesn't it? There are three very important elements to consider when composing your poem - (a)Theme Development, (b) Rhyme Scheme and (c) Meter. All are equally important to the successful completion of your work. It's extremely important to spend time thinking about your theme and planning how to develop it. The theme needs to be one that you can culminate in nineteen lines, eight of which are repeated throughout the poem. This, of course, means that you must also construct your lines in a way that is general enough to allow you to effectively develop the theme in spite of the repetitions. So - think carefully about your intention for the context of your poem. Most of you know how to write in a poetic rhyme scheme, but we'll do a quick synopsis as a reminder. Simply assign each successive rhyming line's end word with the same letter (in alphabetical order) throughout the poem. For example - Look at Balladeer's villanelle, "The Enemy". quote: a-b-a/a-b-a/a-b-a/a-b-a/a-b-a/a-b-a-a... Balladeer's poems are also excellent examples of poetic meter, as he is very consistent about maintaining it throughout his poetry. In this villanelle, the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables within each line of verse is written in (almost :*) flawless iambic tetrameter. Read the words so-CON/fi-DENT/and-VOID/of-FEAR (-/-/-/-/) Read these lines a few times - along with the rest of the poem, and you'll feel the rhythm of the iambic (unstressed-STRESSED) pattern in each line. If either element, rhyme scheme or meter, is not intact, a poem can seem to be "forced" to rhyme. Conversely, with both properly intune, your work will hum like a symphony. I personally find it easiest to begin my villanelle at the end - the final quatrain, that's four lines of verse, written with a rhyme scheme of a-b-a-a - This will eventually evolve into the culmination of your Villanelle - So consider your theme carefully, and plan upon the third and fourth lines being repeated throughout your final poem. The last lines of this quatrain will later become the first lines of the poem - so make it a good one (one that states your theme). There are no stipulations as to the meter you choose, but you'll have a better overall effect if you're consistent - Meter is fairly easy to smooth out by nipping and tucking syllables, so make it your second priority - not your first. Do try to be consistent about the number of syllables that you use in each line, however. That will make it easier edit, and to give your poem a specified meter. NEXT STEP - Setting up the poem in format... The format of a villanelle is a very specific repetition of two lines, with two other alternating rhymed lines incorporated as well. The format is: We have five tercets (three-line stanzas)with a-b-a rhyme schemes and a final quatrain with an a-b-a-a scheme. The last two lines of your quatrain, a1 and a2 will be plugged in as indicated - The rest isn't as simple as you might think - You ALWAYS have to consider how you're developing your THEME. Then, you have to maintain your METER - and come up with some good lines that will accomplish both, and still rhyme as I've indicated. Oh - and the end result has to sound like it was just the simplest thing you've ever written.... You may find yourself wanting to make some fundamental changes at this point - That's normal. For instance, the first two lines of the last quatrain may just fit better in another stanza before you're through. Another important point is whether or not to repeat your lines exactly. There are two schools of thought on this point. The more traditional concept (Balladeer's) is that you must always repeat verbatim. The more liberal viewpoint is that some minor alterations in line content can be allowed for the enhancement of the theme development. Show me your stuff! A Simile is as easy as pie, but a Metaphor is a piece of cake ~*~ Nancy Ness |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Hey Shenachie... when you get yourself in here.... guess what we can put on our list for May after the poetry readings! Here it is in one fell swoop...we can make all of the class agonize over our attempts this month, then work like heck in May over new ones...then when this comes 'round the track for another ride...heh heh heh...we'll be ready!!! Don'cha think? |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Is that cheating???...  |
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