a villanelle is ?
http://members.optushome.com.au/kazoom/poetry/villanelle.html
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15377
This is probably the most famous villanelle written. Enjoy!
A villanelle is a highly structured poetic form that is made up of 19 lines. It originated in France in the 16th century, but gained popularity in English literature during the 19th and 20th centuries.
To understand the structure of a villanelle, we need to break it down:
1. Length: A villanelle consists of 19 lines in total.
2. Rhyme Scheme: It follows a specific pattern of rhymes. The first and third lines of the opening tercet (a three-line stanza) rhyme with each other, forming an "aba" rhyme scheme. This pattern continues throughout the poem. The final quatrain (a four-line stanza) uses the same rhyme scheme as the tercets.
3. Repetition: The villanelle heavily relies on repetition. The first and third lines of the opening tercet are repeated alternately at the end of each subsequent stanza. These repeating lines are called refrains. In total, there are five tercets and a concluding quatrain.
4. Structure: The villanelle is composed of five tercets (ABA rhyme scheme) followed by a quatrain (ABAA rhyme scheme). The refrains alternate as the final lines of the stanzas and come together as the final two lines of the concluding quatrain.
5. Meter: While there is no fixed meter for a villanelle, traditionally, it is written in iambic pentameter, which means each line has ten syllables with alternating stressed and unstressed beats.
Creating a villanelle requires careful attention to the specific rhyming and repetition patterns. Following this structured form can result in a beautiful and intricate poem that captures complex emotions within its limited structure.