Poetry structure Flashcards
(18 cards)
A wife in London
Split in two parts: “The Tragedy” and “The Irony” – creating a sense of dramatic tension and bitter fate.
Regular rhyme scheme (ABAB) and short stanzas – reflect inevitability and restraint.
Use of enjambment mirrors the unstoppable passage of time and emotion.
Dulce et decorum est
Irregular structure: disrupted rhythm and line lengths mimic chaos of war.
Two-part structure: description of trench life, then the gas attack.
Use of caesura and enjambment for fragmented, jarring effect.
the manhunt
Series of couplets, many fragmented and uneven – reflecting physical and emotional healing.
Gradual revelation – mirrors the slow process of rebuilding trust and understanding.
London
Regular quatrains and a strict ABAB rhyme scheme – mirror the controlling, oppressive atmosphere.
Repetition of “every” and “chartered” – reinforces the inescapable, structured control.
living space
Irregular line lengths and layout – echo the precariousness of the slums.
A single stanza with a central turning point (“into this rough frame”) – focuses hope in adversity
as imperceptibly as grief
Single stanza, flowing lines – reflects the quiet, gradual passage of time.
Use of dashes and enjambment – creates a drifting, elusive feel.
she walks in beauty
Iambic tetrameter and regular ABABAB rhyme scheme – gives a flowing, harmonious tone.
Three balanced stanzas – reflect the poet’s controlled admiration.
cozy apologia
Free verse with some rhyming – mirrors a mix of romantic idealism and realism.
Moves from idealised love to mundane reality and back again.
mametz wood
Seven regular tercets (3-line stanzas) – contrast with the chaos of war.
Use of enjambment – mimics the flow of memory and unearthed history.
Gentle rhythm contrasts with violent subject matter – a reflective tone.
the preulder
Written in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) – elevated, epic tone.
Long, flowing sentences with enjambment – mirrors the speaker’s journey and emotional movement.
A turning point in the middle – from wonder to fear and reflection.
ozymandius
Sonnet (14 lines) but not a traditional form – mixes Petrarchan and Shakespearean features.
Use of iambic pentameter, but with irregularities – reflects the crumbling nature of power.
Framed narrative – distances reader from the king’s arrogance.
to autumn
Three stanzas, each with a different focus: early, mid, and late autumn.
Iambic pentameter, regular rhyme scheme (ABAB) – creates harmony and richness.
Very structured – mirrors the orderly progression of the seasons
valentine
Free verse, no set form – unconventional structure mirrors the unconventional view of love.
Use of single-line stanzas for emphasis (e.g. “I give you an onion.”).
Structure becomes more disjointed as the poem progresses – reflecting tension and complexity.
sonnet 43
Petrarchan sonnet (14 lines) – traditionally used for love poetry.
Iambic pentameter with regular rhyme scheme (ABBA ABBA CDCDCD).
Structured and passionate – shows intensity of romantic devotion.
doan
Two stanzas – long and short – represent shift from innocence to fear.
Free verse with vivid imagery.
Enjambment and pacing mirror the speaker’s emotional journey.
hawk roosting
Six regular quatrains – reflect control, dominance, and precision.
Free verse, no rhyme – gives natural speech rhythm to the hawk’s monologue.
Dramatic monologue – powerful, self-assured voice.
afternoons
Three regular 8-line stanzas – reflects routine and monotony.
No rhyme scheme, gentle rhythm – mirrors the quiet, observational tone.
Enjambment – suggests the slow drift of time and loss of identity.
Detached third-person voice – creates emotional distance and highlights quiet resignation.i
solder
Petrarchan structure (octave/sestet) – idea followed by reflection.
Regular iambic pentameter – calm, idealistic tone.
