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Structured Poetry Forms
You're in the right place if you want to learn something about how to write structured poetry forms!  Click on a type of poetry below to learn something about it. 
Sonnet   Limerick   Haiku   Sestina   Pantoum 
The Sonnet
 
A sonnet is a fixed verse (structured) poem with 14 lines written in iambic pentameter (keep reading...).The Shakespearean Sonnet form has a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG.  Lines 1-4, 5-8, and 9-12 are called Quatrains.  Lines 13 and 14 are a Couplet.The Petrarchan Sonnet is a little bit different, as it has a rhyme scheme of ABBAABBACDCDCD.
An iam is a non-stressed beat followed by a stressed beat.  The phrase “the goat” is an iam (note that “the” is unstressed, and “goat” is stressed).  Pentameter refers to the number of pairs of syllables in the line.  Penta=five.  Thus, there are 10 syllables, or 5 pairs of syllables, in an iambic pentameter line. For example:  the first quatrain of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18!  Note the unstressed-stressed pattern.

Why were sonnets written?     Many sonnets present a problem during the first two quatrains.  Then, line 9 marks a mood shift, which presents a solution to the problem in the final quatrain and couplet.  Click hereto see an example!  And another!  And another!  And another!  And another!
 

The Limerick
 
A limerick is a five-line poem with a rhyme scheme of AABBA.  Lines 1, 2, and 5 all typically contain 8-11 syllables, while Lines 3 and 4 typically contain 5-6 syllables.  Limericks are typically funny. Here's an example from Ogden Nash!
 
A flea and a fly in a flue
Were imprisoned, so what could they do?
Said the fly, “Let us flee!”
“Let us fly!” said the flea.
So they flew through a flaw in the flue.
 
Click herefor another example!  And another!  And another!  And another!  And another!  And another!
 
The Haiku
 
The most common form of the Haiku contains three lines with no rhyme scheme.  The first line usually contains five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, and the third line contains five syllables.  Haikus, which originated in Japan, are typically about nature and are noted for painting a vivid image in the reader's mind.Here's an example by Donna Brock! 
 
The red blossom bends
and drips its dew to the ground.
Like a tear it falls.
 
Clickhere for some examples!
 
The Sestina
 
A sestina is a strictly ordered form of poetry with six 6-line stanzas and one 3-line stanza.  There is no rhyme scheme; instead, the sestina uses six end words that are repeated in a strict pattern.  Each letter A-F represents a different end word.
 
Stanza 1- ABCDEF
Stanza 2- FAEBDC
Stanza 3- CFDABE
Stanza 4- ECBFAD
Stanza 5- DEACFB
Stanza 6- BDFECA
Then, the final stanza is different.  Each line of this stanza must contain one of the specific end words and end with a different one: 
Final Stanza, Line 1- Contain B, End With E
Final Stanza, Line 2- Contain D, End With C
Final Stanza, Line 3- Contain F, End With A. 
Click here to see an example!
 
The Pantoum
 
The pantoum is a structured form of poetry that uses repeating lines.  The format is simple, but writing one can be difficult because of the word play required.  For a rhyme scheme,the first and third lines of each stanza rhyme, and the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyme.   Construction of a pantoum is as follows:
 
Line 1
Line 2
Line 3
Line 4
 
Line 5 (repeat of Line 2)
Line 6
Line 7 (repeat of Line 4)
Line 8
 
Line 9 (repeat of Line 6)
Line 10
Line 11 (repeat of Line 8)
Line 12
 
...and so on.  This pattern can continue indefinitely, but when you reach the final stanza, the pattern is a little different...
Line 2 of Previous Stanza
Line 3 of FIRST Stanza
Line 4 of Previous Stanza
Line 1 of FIRST Stanza.
Thus, the first and last line of the poem are the same.  Neat, huh?  Click here to see an example!

 
Some Terminology
You may wish to know the following terms before working with structured poetry.  If you were linked here, and you wish to go back to the poetry form you were reading about, simply click the BACK button on your browser.

Rhyme Scheme- The arrangement of rhyming words in a poem.  The last words on all the "A" lines rhyme, the last words on all the "B" lines rhyme, etc.

Quatrain- A four line stanza with a rhyme scheme of ABAB.

Couplet- A two line stanza with a rhyme scheme of AA.

Iam- A non-stressed beat followed by a stressed beat.

Non-stressed beat- A word that is generally not stressed or emphasized when spoken (i.e. "the").

Stressed beat- A word that is generally stressed or emphasized when spoken (i.e. "goat").

Stanza- A set or group of lines in a poem.

End Word- The last word in a line of poetry.