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Villanelles. Not just for stuffy old men. History. Started as ballad, songs Translated “villanelle” means “country song” Known as a French form of poetry but most villanelles are written in English. The Form.
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Villanelles Not just for stuffy old men
History • Started as ballad, songs • Translated “villanelle” means “country song” • Known as a French form of poetry but most villanelles are written in English.
The Form • It is a rhyme-and-refrain pattern consisting of 5 tercets and one quatrain at the end. • The rhyme throughout the 5 tercets is ABA and the quatrain at the end is ABAA. • There is a refrain of A1 and A2 throughout the poem. • A1 and A2 represent a word that is repeated at the end of certain lines
A Closer Look Refrain 1 (A1) Line 2 (b) Refrain 2 (A2) Line 4 (a) Line 5 (b) Refrain 1 (A1) Line 7 (a) Line 8 (b) Refrain 2 (A2) Line 10 (a) Line 11 (b) Refrain 1 (A1) Line 13 (a) Line 14 (b) Refrain 2 (A2) Line 16 (a) Line 17 (b) Refrain 1 (A1) Refrain 2 (A2)
An Example! • The jargon of poetry can be confusing so let’s look at an example from Sylvia Plath
Mad Girl’s Love Song by Sylvia Plath I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead; I lift my lids and all is born again. (I think I made you up inside my head.) The stars go waltzing out in blue and red, And arbitrary blackness gallops in: I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead. I dreamed that you bewitched me into bed And sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite insane. (I think I made you up inside my head.) God topples from the sky, hell's fires fade: Exit seraphim and Satan's men: I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead. I fancied you'd return the way you said, But I grow old and I forget your name. (I think I made you up inside my head.) I should have loved a thunderbird instead; At least when spring comes they roar back again. I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead. (I think I made you up inside my head.)
Your turn! • Take your copy of Mad Girl’s Love Song and, using the rhyme and refrain pattern, diagram the poem with the people at your table. • Be ready to discuss and defend your answers. • You have 5 minutes.
Test your knowledge • Read the poem with the people at your table • Determine whether the poem is or is not a villanelle • Use what you know about the definition of a villanelle to support your answer • You will have 5 minutes
You be the Author! • Using a lap top from the cart write a villanelle. • I am not concerned with your abilities as a writer, I am only looking for you to follow the guidelines of the Villanelle (rhyme and refrain)