1. Poetry Form

2. Important terms
Stanza- a group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a poem; a verse.
Meter-the regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.
A foot is a unit of meter.

3. A poem’s form includes:
Its structure and the way its words and lines are arranged.
A poem’s form gives it rhythm and emphasizes meaning.

4. Traditional Form
Also called “fixed form” because it follows fixed rules:
The poem is divided into stanzas that include the same number of lines
The poem has a pattern of end rhymes, called a rhyme scheme.
A rhyme scheme is noted by assigning a letter of the alphabet, beginning with a, to each line. Lines that rhyme are given the same letter.

5. Example of rhyme scheme
In the 1st stanza of “Dump”, the end words are:
pour, find, store, and mind
The stanza’s rhyme scheme is ABAB.

6. Traditional Form continued..
The meter of a poem is the regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. Each foot, or unit of meter, includes one stressed syllable.

7. Free Verse
Has natural rhythms rather than regular patterns of rhyme, rhythm, meter or line length. Does not use rhyme or regular rhythm.
It’s “free” and sounds natural like everyday conversation.

9. TRADITIONAL FORM or FREE VERSE?
Practice Time!
TRADITIONAL FORM or FREE VERSE?