Closed and Open Closed and Open Form. Concrete Form. Concrete Poetry.Poetry. Conventions and InnovationsConventions and Innovations

Poetic FormPoetic Form

Poetic form Poetic form is the design of a poem is the design of a poem described in terms of rhyme, meter, and described in terms of rhyme, meter, and stanzaic pattern.stanzaic pattern.

Closed form Closed form is characterized by regular is characterized by regular patterns of meter, rhyme, line length, patterns of meter, rhyme, line length, stanzaic division. Often belongs to a stanzaic division. Often belongs to a traditional genre (ex., sonnet). Includes traditional genre (ex., sonnet). Includes blank verse – blank verse – unrhymed but otherwise unrhymed but otherwise regularregular..

Open form Open form is characterized by irregular is characterized by irregular structure.structure.

Open Poetic FormsOpen Poetic Forms

Free verse Free verse ((vers librevers libre) is unrhymed, with ) is unrhymed, with varying line length, without regular varying line length, without regular stanzas.stanzas.

Prose poem Prose poem looks like prose, has horizontal looks like prose, has horizontal layout.layout.

Visual poem Visual poem based on visual effects (ex., based on visual effects (ex., typographical arrangement) more than words.typographical arrangement) more than words.

Sound poem Sound poem is intended for oral presentation is intended for oral presentation only; based on sound effects.only; based on sound effects.

Concrete poetryConcrete poetry – umbrella term for – umbrella term for unconventional experimental poetry.unconventional experimental poetry.

e.e.cummingse.e.cummings (1894-(1894-1962)1962)

American poet, novelist, American poet, novelist, playwright, and painter.playwright, and painter.

Disregarded, on purpose, Disregarded, on purpose, conventional conventional punctuation, syntax, and punctuation, syntax, and grammar.grammar.

Most known for combining Most known for combining modernist elements with modernist elements with traditional forms in traditional forms in poetry.poetry.

Employed typography for Employed typography for visual effects in poems.visual effects in poems.

May Swenson May Swenson (1913-(1913-1989)1989)

American poet, American poet, playwright, and playwright, and translator.translator.

Her first language Her first language was Swedish.was Swedish.

Wrote on love, Wrote on love, nature, and nature, and sexuality.sexuality.

One of the first One of the first American female poets American female poets to explore the theme to explore the theme of same-sex love.of same-sex love.

bpNichol bpNichol (Barrie Phillip (Barrie Phillip Nichol, Nichol, 1944-19881944-1988))

Canadian poet, Canadian poet, author of concrete author of concrete poetry.poetry.

Known for visual Known for visual books, books, sound poetry, performances, collages, theatrical pieces, digital poems, and other unconventional forms.

George Herbert George Herbert (1593-(1593-1633)1633)

English religious poet English religious poet and Anglican priest.and Anglican priest.

Famous for his orations.Famous for his orations.

Wrote metaphysical Wrote metaphysical poetry.poetry.

Several of his poems are Several of his poems are used by Church of used by Church of England as hymns.England as hymns.

Some of his sayings Some of his sayings became proverbs (“His became proverbs (“His bark is worse than his bark is worse than his bite”).bite”).