New Master Class Starting Soon!

[glorybee]

Well, I've thought a lot about what to cover in this new session, but have finally settled on a short class covering the many different poetic forms. I'm not going to cover poetic literary devices (alliteration, onomatopoeia, figurative language, etc.), since that would be a repeat of last year's "class". (However, I'm sure that I'll have to touch on many of those terms.)

Here are my goals, and I'll start working on class #1 right away, probably to be posted on Monday:

1. Teach the basics of several well-known forms of poetry: most of them have rules for rhyme and/or meter, subject matter, length, etc.

2. Give examples from literature, and when possible, from the Writing Challenge.

3. Suggest ways that each form could be used in the Writing Challenge.

4. Give "homework" assignments to help poets of all abilities to stretch their poetic muscles.

What else would you want to see taught in a class about poetic forms?

Here are some of the forms that I'd like to teach about. I'm familiar (more or less) with most of these, and I think they'll be the most accessible to FaithWriters poets. Are there others that I should add to my list?

haiku
limerick
sonnet
sestina
acrostic
ballad
blank verse
cinquain
ode
quatrain
clerihew
tercet
villanelle
pantoum
concrete poem
free verse
tanka
diamante

NOTE TO ANYONE NEW TO THE BOARDS, OR TO THE MASTER CLASS: This isn't a "class" in the traditional sense, not at all! I post a lesson, and the wonderful people here at FaithWriters add their input--often correcting or enhancing my efforts. We do a lot of back-and-forth dialogue, and by the end of the week, we ALL have a better understanding of the week's topic.

I don't have any particular expertise on these forms aside from a lifelong love of poetry, and several years of collaborative teaching with some excellent high school literature teachers.

There's no attendance taken, no mandatory assignments, no grading, no fee. Just writers talking about writing.

[Toni Star]

I'm definitely interested in taking this class. I like to write poetry but I need information on its structure, meaning and purpose..

So, I'll be here next Monday...

Toni

[glorybee]

Great, Toni!

By the way, for those of you who hoped for a class on Basics of Grammar, Punctuation, etc., I've recently talked to Ann Grover, and she's probably going to be starting hers up again soon. Watch for that at the "Ann's Jots and Tittles" forum!

[Toni Star]

Thanks, Jan...

Ann's class sounds great, too..Will be checking it out, also..

Many thanks...

Toni

[Granny's Pen]

I had fun with the "Skinny" poem, but was never convinced it was an acknowledged form. Have you heard of this?

[glorybee]

I haven't heard of it, Deb...can you send me a link, please?

[lthomas]

I'm looking forward to this class, Jan. The more I read poetry, the more convinced I become that it is one of the purest most direct means of communication between souls.

I'm not sure I'd ever become a poet as I think poets are born, not made; but the language is so rich and has so much depth that simply learning about it opens an entire new world to me.

Until class then - Loren

[Granny's Pen]

Jan, I have a couple of skinny poems I could send you, but, for whatever reason, my Word program won't open today. Basically, they are poems of any length consisting of short lines. Poetic elements must be present in every line (or close to it), but it is not necessary to rhyme at the end of the line.

This was one of the forms we were assigned in my college Creative Writing class.

[yvonne]

Yay, Jan!!
I can't wait... *wiggle, wiggle, bounce, bounce*



(Can you tell I'm excited?...okay, I'll try to be patient until Monday.)



Vonnie

[swfdoc1]

Are there others that I should add to my list?

Great choices. Two possible ideas.

1) While forms based on repeated lines are well represented, how about something with HALF line repeats? Maybe a rondeau, rondine, or roundel (not to be confused with a rondel, rondelet or roundelay) (good grief!)). Famous example: In Flanders Field.

2) Is prose poetry too far afield?

[beff]

I'm looking forward to this class, Jan.

I considered writing a rondeau redouble once (but didn't get very far). The form is fascinating.

http://www.volecentral.co.uk/vf/rondouble.htm

[glorybee]

Steve and Beth, thanks! I'll look those up and add them to my list.

[beff]

Jan, Awhile back I found this amazing site full of poetry forms.

http://www.volecentral.co.uk/vf/index.htm

The rondeau redouble (from above) was included in this.

[yvonne]

Wow.... that should keep you busy for a LONG time, Jan!

[colin_nielsen]

I'm in. I used to love writing poetry. Could get away with my extremely poor grammar and people thought I was great lol. I'm wondering if grammar rules still apply to poetry. These days I usually I try and match up the syllables on every line. eg every line has the same amount of syllables. Don't know if it's a form but it does make you choose your words very carefully.

Colin