The term "literary structure" in poetry refers to the arrangement of elements within a poem, contributing to its overall meaning and impact. These structures can be formal or informal.
Formal Structures:
* Stanza: A group of lines forming a unit within a poem.
* Couplet: Two-line stanza
* Tercet: Three-line stanza
* Quatrain: Four-line stanza
* Sestet: Six-line stanza
* Octave: Eight-line stanza
* Meter: The rhythmic pattern of a poem, determined by the number of syllables in each line and the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables.
* Iambic pentameter: Five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables per line (e.g., "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?")
* Trochaic tetrameter: Four pairs of stressed and unstressed syllables per line (e.g., "Double, double toil and trouble")
* Rhyme scheme: The pattern of rhyming words at the end of lines.
* ABAB: Alternate lines rhyme (e.g., "Roses are red, violets are blue")
* AABB: Adjacent lines rhyme (e.g., "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall")
* ABCB: Only the second and fourth lines rhyme (e.g., "The wind howls, the rain falls, the night is dark, and we are lost")
* Form: Predefined structures with specific rules regarding line length, meter, and rhyme.
* Sonnet: 14-line poem with specific rhyme schemes and meter.
* Haiku: Unrhymed, 17-syllable poem (5-7-5) structure, typically focused on nature.
* Villanelle: 19-line poem with five tercets and a final quatrain, repeating two rhymes and refrains.
* Ode: A formal, often elevated poem celebrating a specific subject.
Informal Structures:
* Free verse: Poets write without following any set rules of meter, rhyme, or stanza length.
* Blank verse: Unrhymed iambic pentameter, often used in dramatic works.
* Narrative: Poems that tell a story, often with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
* Lyrical: Poems expressing personal emotions and feelings.
* Dramatic: Poems that involve dialogue or monologue, creating a sense of dramatic tension.
Beyond Structure:
While these structures are important, they are not the only elements contributing to a poem's meaning. Imagery, symbolism, metaphor, alliteration, and other literary devices also play a crucial role in shaping the poem's meaning and effect.
Ultimately, understanding literary structure helps us interpret a poem's meaning and appreciate its artistry. By recognizing the choices made by the poet, we can gain a deeper understanding of the poem's message and its unique voice.