Two weeks ago I “pm” Donna, one of the several moderators in PFFA regarding the differences between free verse and blank verse. I think her reply makes good sense, so I am posting it here to share with you guys. :)
My question:
“Hello Donna,
It is me again. I need to clarify something and I am not sure whom to turn to. You are the first person that comes to my mind. Hope you don’t mind.
I really need to get this straight, is the following correct?
Poems,
Without meter, without rhyme = free verse
With meter, with rhyme = Most traditional forms, such as sonnets, etc
With meter, without rhyme = blank verse
Without meter, with rhyme = Bad poems
Thanks.”
Her reply:
“To answer your questions, here are some definitions to consider:
Without meter, without rhyme = free verse
Free Verse – Poetry without any set meter; lines may break either when the unit of syntax is complete or midway through the syntactic unit (phrase, clause or sentence). [From Mary Kinzie's A Poet's Guide to Poetry]
Free Verse – A fluid form which conforms to no set rules of traditional versification. The free in free verse refers to the freedom from fixed patterns of meter and rhyme, but writers of free verse employ familiar poetic devices such as assonance, alliteration, imagery, caesure, figures of speech etc., and their rhythmic effects are dependent on the syllabic cadences emerging from the context. The term is often used in its French language form, vers libre. [From Bob's Byway of Poetic Terms]
With meter, with rhyme = Most traditional forms, such as sonnets, etc
Most traditional forms have a set metrical and rhyme pattern. The pattern is determined by the form, with some variations allowed.
With meter, without rhyme = blank verse
Blank Verse – Unrhymed iambic pentameter lines (five iambs per line), with occasional--and necessary--enjambment. The "blank" denoted absence of rhyme. [From Mary Kinzie's A Poet's Guide to Poetry]
Blank Verse – Poetry written without rhymes, but which retains a set metrical pattern, usually iambic pentameter (five iambic feet per line) in English verse. Since it is a very flexible form, the writer not being hampered in the expression of thought or syntactic structure by the need to rhyme, it is used extensively in narrative and dramatic poetry. In lyric poetry, blank verse is adaptable to lengthy descriptive and meditative poems.
Sidelight – Blank verse and free verse are often misunderstood or confused. A good way to remember the difference is to think of the word blank as meaning that the ends of the lines where rhymes would normally appear are "blank," i.e., devoid of rhyme; the free in free verse refers to the freedom from fixed patterns of traditional versification.[From Bob's Byway of Poetic Terms]
Now, want to confuse things by adding Free Blank Verse into the mix?
Free Blank Verse – Verse that still exhibits the length and alternation of weak with strong syllables prominent in Blank Verse, but with significant loosening of the iambic pentameter model. [From Mary Kinzie's A Poet's Guide to Poetry]
Without meter, with rhyme = Bad poems
Rhyme usually goes hand in hand with meter; however, there are successful poems written using slant rhymes, internal rhymes, etc. But, yes, as a rule, most beginners tend to concentrate on the rhyme scheme without meter and sacrifice the poem to a poorly constructed rhyme scheme."
Interesting right?
My question:
“Hello Donna,
It is me again. I need to clarify something and I am not sure whom to turn to. You are the first person that comes to my mind. Hope you don’t mind.
I really need to get this straight, is the following correct?
Poems,
Without meter, without rhyme = free verse
With meter, with rhyme = Most traditional forms, such as sonnets, etc
With meter, without rhyme = blank verse
Without meter, with rhyme = Bad poems
Thanks.”
Her reply:
“To answer your questions, here are some definitions to consider:
Without meter, without rhyme = free verse
Free Verse – Poetry without any set meter; lines may break either when the unit of syntax is complete or midway through the syntactic unit (phrase, clause or sentence). [From Mary Kinzie's A Poet's Guide to Poetry]
Free Verse – A fluid form which conforms to no set rules of traditional versification. The free in free verse refers to the freedom from fixed patterns of meter and rhyme, but writers of free verse employ familiar poetic devices such as assonance, alliteration, imagery, caesure, figures of speech etc., and their rhythmic effects are dependent on the syllabic cadences emerging from the context. The term is often used in its French language form, vers libre. [From Bob's Byway of Poetic Terms]
With meter, with rhyme = Most traditional forms, such as sonnets, etc
Most traditional forms have a set metrical and rhyme pattern. The pattern is determined by the form, with some variations allowed.
With meter, without rhyme = blank verse
Blank Verse – Unrhymed iambic pentameter lines (five iambs per line), with occasional--and necessary--enjambment. The "blank" denoted absence of rhyme. [From Mary Kinzie's A Poet's Guide to Poetry]
Blank Verse – Poetry written without rhymes, but which retains a set metrical pattern, usually iambic pentameter (five iambic feet per line) in English verse. Since it is a very flexible form, the writer not being hampered in the expression of thought or syntactic structure by the need to rhyme, it is used extensively in narrative and dramatic poetry. In lyric poetry, blank verse is adaptable to lengthy descriptive and meditative poems.
Sidelight – Blank verse and free verse are often misunderstood or confused. A good way to remember the difference is to think of the word blank as meaning that the ends of the lines where rhymes would normally appear are "blank," i.e., devoid of rhyme; the free in free verse refers to the freedom from fixed patterns of traditional versification.[From Bob's Byway of Poetic Terms]
Now, want to confuse things by adding Free Blank Verse into the mix?
Free Blank Verse – Verse that still exhibits the length and alternation of weak with strong syllables prominent in Blank Verse, but with significant loosening of the iambic pentameter model. [From Mary Kinzie's A Poet's Guide to Poetry]
Without meter, with rhyme = Bad poems
Rhyme usually goes hand in hand with meter; however, there are successful poems written using slant rhymes, internal rhymes, etc. But, yes, as a rule, most beginners tend to concentrate on the rhyme scheme without meter and sacrifice the poem to a poorly constructed rhyme scheme."
Interesting right?
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