The Ode Less Travelled Part 16

abecedarian Pointless style of Pointless style of acrostic acrostic q.v. in ABC order. q.v. in ABC order.

acatalectic Metrically complete: without Metrically complete: without clipping clipping or or catalexis, acephalic catalexis, acephalic or or hypermetric hypermetric alteration q.q.v. alteration q.q.v.

accent The word used for the natural push given to words within a sentence. In poetry, accent is called The word used for the natural push given to words within a sentence. In poetry, accent is called stress stress. q.v.

accentual Of verse, metre that is defined by stress count only, irrespective of the number of weak syllables. Comic and non-literary ballads and rhymes etc. Of verse, metre that is defined by stress count only, irrespective of the number of weak syllables. Comic and non-literary ballads and rhymes etc. accentual-alliterative accentual-alliterative Poetry derived from the Anglo-Saxon and Middle English traditions of four-stress alliterated lines divided into two, where the first three stressed syllables alliterate according to the Poetry derived from the Anglo-Saxon and Middle English traditions of four-stress alliterated lines divided into two, where the first three stressed syllables alliterate according to the bang, bang, bangcrash bang, bang, bangcrash rule, q.v. rule, q.v.

accentual-syllabic Poetry ordered by metre Poetry ordered by metre and and syllabic count. Iambic pentameter, trochaic tetrameter etc. syllabic count. Iambic pentameter, trochaic tetrameter etc.

acephalous Lit. 'headless'. A line of poetry lacking its initial metrical unit. Same as Lit. 'headless'. A line of poetry lacking its initial metrical unit. Same as clipped clipped, q.v.

acrostics Kind of verse whose first letters, when read downwards, spell out a name, word or phrase: What A Nonsensical Kind, you might think. Kind of verse whose first letters, when read downwards, spell out a name, word or phrase: What A Nonsensical Kind, you might think.

Adonic line The final short line of a The final short line of a Sapphic (Ode) Sapphic (Ode). Cla.s.sically, the dactyl-trochee (named after Sappho's line 'O for Adonis').

alba Alt. name for an Alt. name for an aubade aubade q.v. q.v.

alcaics Named after Alcaeus, another poet from Lesbos, greatly admired by Horace. Some English versions of his rather complex metre have been attempted, Tennyson's 'Milton' being a well-known example. Named after Alcaeus, another poet from Lesbos, greatly admired by Horace. Some English versions of his rather complex metre have been attempted, Tennyson's 'Milton' being a well-known example. Alcaics Alcaics now seem to be settled as a quatrain form. I will leave you to discover more. now seem to be settled as a quatrain form. I will leave you to discover more.

aleatory Lit. 'of dice' Lit. 'of dice'a. verse uses chance (drawing of words from a hat, sticking a pin in a random word from a dictionary etc.) to determine word choices. uses chance (drawing of words from a hat, sticking a pin in a random word from a dictionary etc.) to determine word choices.

alexandrine A line of iambic hexameter, typically found in English as the last line of a A line of iambic hexameter, typically found in English as the last line of a Spenserian Stanza Spenserian Stanza or similar pentametric verse arrangement. or similar pentametric verse arrangement.

allegory, allegorical The device of using a character or narrative element symbolically to refer to something else, either abstract (the quest for the Holy Grail is an allegory of Man's search for spiritual grace), or specific (Gloriana in the The device of using a character or narrative element symbolically to refer to something else, either abstract (the quest for the Holy Grail is an allegory of Man's search for spiritual grace), or specific (Gloriana in the Faerie Queen Faerie Queen is an allegory of Elizabeth I). is an allegory of Elizabeth I).

alliteration, alliterative The repet.i.tion of the sound of an initial consonant or consonant cl.u.s.ter in stressed syllables close enough to each other for the ear to be affected. The repet.i.tion of the sound of an initial consonant or consonant cl.u.s.ter in stressed syllables close enough to each other for the ear to be affected.

amphibrach, -ic A A ternary ternary metrical unit expressed as metrical unit expressed as , ro , romantic deluded etc.

amphimacer A A ternary ternary metrical unit expressed as metrical unit expressed as , , hand hand to to mouth, pack mouth, packing case case etc. etc.

anacoluthon Change of syntax within a sentence. Change of syntax within a sentence.

anacreontics Short-lined (often seven-syllable trochaics), celebrating erotic love, wine and pleasure. Short-lined (often seven-syllable trochaics), celebrating erotic love, wine and pleasure.

anacrusis Extra weak syllable(s) at the start of a line. Extra weak syllable(s) at the start of a line.

anadiplosis Repet.i.tion of the last word of one clause or line as the first of the next, e.g. Keats's use of 'forlorn' in 'Ode to a Nightingale'. Repet.i.tion of the last word of one clause or line as the first of the next, e.g. Keats's use of 'forlorn' in 'Ode to a Nightingale'.

anapaest, -ic A A ternary ternary metrical unit expressed as metrical unit expressed as , uncon , unconvinced, in a spin spin.

anaphora Rhetorical or poetic repet.i.tion of the first word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or stanzas. Rhetorical or poetic repet.i.tion of the first word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or stanzas.

anceps A metrical unit that can be either short or long, stressed or unstressed according to the poet's whim. Only really found in cla.s.sical verse, such as A metrical unit that can be either short or long, stressed or unstressed according to the poet's whim. Only really found in cla.s.sical verse, such as quant.i.tative quant.i.tative imitations of Sappho etc. imitations of Sappho etc.

anthology Collection of poems, literally of flowersa posy of poesy, in fact. Collection of poems, literally of flowersa posy of poesy, in fact.

antimetabole Rhetorical repet.i.tion by inversion and Rhetorical repet.i.tion by inversion and chiasmus chiasmus q.v.e.g. 'I pretty and my saying apt? or 'I apt and my saying pretty?' from q.v.e.g. 'I pretty and my saying apt? or 'I apt and my saying pretty?' from Love's Labour's Lost. Love's Labour's Lost.

antiphon Sung verse. Sung verse. antistrophe antistrophe The 'counter-turn', used as the second part of a triad in The 'counter-turn', used as the second part of a triad in Pindaric Odes Pindaric Odes.

aphaeresis, aphaeretic The omission of a syllable at the beginning of a word: 'gainst, 'neath etc. The omission of a syllable at the beginning of a word: 'gainst, 'neath etc.

aphorism Wise saying, often witty. Like an Wise saying, often witty. Like an epigram epigram but with a more universal truth. An epigram could be made about the appearance of a particular bride at a wedding, say, but this would not be an aphorism unless its wit and truth held for any occasion. but with a more universal truth. An epigram could be made about the appearance of a particular bride at a wedding, say, but this would not be an aphorism unless its wit and truth held for any occasion.

apocope, apocopation An elision or omission of the final letter or syllable of a word, 'i'the' for 'in the', 'seld' for 'seldom' and the Chaucerian 'bet' for 'better' etc. An elision or omission of the final letter or syllable of a word, 'i'the' for 'in the', 'seld' for 'seldom' and the Chaucerian 'bet' for 'better' etc.

apostrophe Aside from the obvious reference to a punctuation mark, a moment when a poet turns to address some person, object or principle, often preceded by a (pro)vocative 'O', as in 'O attic shape!' as Keats liked to say to his favourite Grecian urns. Aside from the obvious reference to a punctuation mark, a moment when a poet turns to address some person, object or principle, often preceded by a (pro)vocative 'O', as in 'O attic shape!' as Keats liked to say to his favourite Grecian urns.

apothegm A short aphorism, q.v. A short aphorism, q.v.

a.s.sonance, a.s.sonantal A repet.i.tion of vowel sounds either used internally, or as a A repet.i.tion of vowel sounds either used internally, or as a partial rhyme partial rhyme q.v. 'Most holy Pope', 'slurred first words', etc. q.v. 'Most holy Pope', 'slurred first words', etc.

asyndeton, asyndetic The omission of conjunctions, personal p.r.o.nouns and other particles: 'hoping see you tomorrow', 'not fond turkey, prefer goose,' etc. The omission of conjunctions, personal p.r.o.nouns and other particles: 'hoping see you tomorrow', 'not fond turkey, prefer goose,' etc.

aubade A poetic celebration of dawn or a lament at daybreak's interference with lovers and their private bliss e.g. A poetic celebration of dawn or a lament at daybreak's interference with lovers and their private bliss e.g. Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet: 'But soft what light at yonder window breaks?', Donne's 'The Sun Rising' etc. Also called an alba alba.

ballad Traditional verse form, often sung, usually in four-stress cross-rhyming quatrains, often alternating with three-stress lines. Not to be confused with Traditional verse form, often sung, usually in four-stress cross-rhyming quatrains, often alternating with three-stress lines. Not to be confused with ballade ballade or or salad salad q.v. q.v.

ballade Verse form of three stanzas, three rhymes and envoi: Verse form of three stanzas, three rhymes and envoi: ababbabA ababbabA ababbabA babA. ababbabA ababbabA ababbabA babA.

bang, bang, bangcras.h.!.+ Michael Alexander's phrase describing the alliterative principle behind Anglo-Saxon verse. Three alliterated stresses followed by a non-alliterated one. Michael Alexander's phrase describing the alliterative principle behind Anglo-Saxon verse. Three alliterated stresses followed by a non-alliterated one.

bathos, bathetic A (comic or pathetic) failure to achieve dignity, a ba.n.a.l anticlimax. A (comic or pathetic) failure to achieve dignity, a ba.n.a.l anticlimax.

binary A metrical foot of two units: A metrical foot of two units: iambic iambic, trochaic trochaic, spondaic spondaic or or pyrrhic pyrrhic.

blank verse Non-rhyming verse: most often applied to iambic pentameter, such as that found in Shakespeare's plays, Milton's Non-rhyming verse: most often applied to iambic pentameter, such as that found in Shakespeare's plays, Milton's Paradise Lost Paradise Lost and Wordsworth's and Wordsworth's The Prelude The Prelude.

burden A A refrain refrain, q.v.

cadence Lit. 'falling', the natural rhythm derived from accentuation, i.e. the rise and fall of stress. The sound that precedes a pause. Lit. 'falling', the natural rhythm derived from accentuation, i.e. the rise and fall of stress. The sound that precedes a pause. caesura caesura Of metrical verse: a pause or breath in mid line. Of metrical verse: a pause or breath in mid line.

canto A series of long poems. A series of long poems.

canzone A lyric poem, usually with envoi. A lyric poem, usually with envoi.

catalexis, catalectic Truncation: the docking of a final metrical unit, such as the last Truncation: the docking of a final metrical unit, such as the last feminine feminine syllable of a trochaic line. syllable of a trochaic line.

cataplexis, cataplectic Hardly relevant, but a fun word. It means a poetical or rhetorical threatening of punishment, horror or disaster. Like King Lear's 'I will do such things, What they are, yet I know not; but they shall be The terrors of the earth'. Hardly relevant, but a fun word. It means a poetical or rhetorical threatening of punishment, horror or disaster. Like King Lear's 'I will do such things, What they are, yet I know not; but they shall be The terrors of the earth'.

cauda, caudate sonnet Lit. Lit. tail tail. A three-line coda to a sonnet sonnet, consisting of a trimeter trimeter and two and two pentameters pentameters.

cento A collage poem made up of lines of real verse from different poems. A collage poem made up of lines of real verse from different poems.

chant royal A sixty-line poem with envoi. I spared you it in Chapter Three out of care for your sanity. A sixty-line poem with envoi. I spared you it in Chapter Three out of care for your sanity.

chiasmus From the Gr. letter From the Gr. letter chi chi, meaning a 'crossing' of sense. A common rhetorical figure, 'It's not the men in my life, it's the life in my men', 'one should eat to live, not live to eat', 'Real pain for sham friends, Champagne for real friends' etc.

choliamb A A scazon scazon q.v.kind of metrical subst.i.tution, usually with ternary feet replacing binary. Forget about it. q.v.kind of metrical subst.i.tution, usually with ternary feet replacing binary. Forget about it.

chronogram A A gematric gematric q.v. poem or motto whose letters when added as Roman numerals make up a significant number, such as a date: e.g. q.v. poem or motto whose letters when added as Roman numerals make up a significant number, such as a date: e.g. Lord have mercie vpon vs Lord have mercie vpon vs = 1666 (or 1464 or permutations thereof ). = 1666 (or 1464 or permutations thereof ).

cinquain A stanza of five lines. Esp. in reference to the verse of Adelaide c.r.a.psey. A stanza of five lines. Esp. in reference to the verse of Adelaide c.r.a.psey.

clerihew From Edmund Clerihew Bentley. A non-metrical comical and biographical quatrain whose first line is the name of its subject. From Edmund Clerihew Bentley. A non-metrical comical and biographical quatrain whose first line is the name of its subject.

clipped As As acephalous acephalous q.v., omission of the first metrical unit in a line of verse. q.v., omission of the first metrical unit in a line of verse.

closed form Any form of verse whose stanza length, rhyme scheme and other features are fixed. Any form of verse whose stanza length, rhyme scheme and other features are fixed.

closet drama Not, as you might think, the hysterics attendant upon coming out, but a play written to be read, not performed. A genre invented by the Roman playwright Seneca. Not, as you might think, the hysterics attendant upon coming out, but a play written to be read, not performed. A genre invented by the Roman playwright Seneca.

c.o.c.kney School Blackwood (of Magazine fame) and the Blackwood (of Magazine fame) and the Quarterly Review Quarterly Review q.v. used this sn.o.bbish and wholly inappropriate appellation to describe the 'bad' poetic diction of Keats and Leigh Hunt and their circle. Byron, too, 'disapproved of that School of Scribbling' and believed Keats guilty of wasting his talents in 'c.o.c.kneyfying and Suburbing' (letter to John Murray, 1821). q.v. used this sn.o.bbish and wholly inappropriate appellation to describe the 'bad' poetic diction of Keats and Leigh Hunt and their circle. Byron, too, 'disapproved of that School of Scribbling' and believed Keats guilty of wasting his talents in 'c.o.c.kneyfying and Suburbing' (letter to John Murray, 1821).

common metre ballad ballad metre, i.e. 4-3-4-3, rhyming metre, i.e. 4-3-4-3, rhyming abab abab or or abcb abcb conceit An extended metaphor or fanciful image. An extended metaphor or fanciful image.

connotation The a.s.sociative, implied meaning of a word, as opposed to its The a.s.sociative, implied meaning of a word, as opposed to its denotation denotation q.v. q.v.

consonance A loose or exact repet.i.tion of consonant sounds either used internally, or as partial rhyme. 'And Madeline asleep in lap of legends old', A loose or exact repet.i.tion of consonant sounds either used internally, or as partial rhyme. 'And Madeline asleep in lap of legends old', f.u.c.k/fork f.u.c.k/fork, pus.h.i.+ng/pa.s.sion pus.h.i.+ng/pa.s.sion, past the post past the post etc. etc.

corona sequence A sonnet sequence where the last line of a sonnet is used as the first line of the next. The final sonnet will end with the opening line of the first in the sequence. A sonnet sequence where the last line of a sonnet is used as the first line of the next. The final sonnet will end with the opening line of the first in the sequence.

coronach A A threnody threnody or funeral dirge. or funeral dirge.

counter-turn Ben Jonson's word for Ben Jonson's word for antistrophe antistrophe q.v. q.v.

couplet A pair of rhyming lines. A pair of rhyming lines.

cretic Alternative name for the Alternative name for the amphimacer amphimacer q.v., after the Cretan poet Thaletas. q.v., after the Cretan poet Thaletas.

cross-rhyme End-rhyming of alternate lines: End-rhyming of alternate lines: abab cdcd abab cdcd etc. etc.

curtal Name for a Name for a sonnet sonnet that falls short of the usual fourteen lines, if such a thing can be said to exist. Properly speaking, the Hopkins stanza with an octave reduced to a sestet. that falls short of the usual fourteen lines, if such a thing can be said to exist. Properly speaking, the Hopkins stanza with an octave reduced to a sestet.

cynghanedd From Welsh poetry, a style of interlaced From Welsh poetry, a style of interlaced alliteration alliteration: as employed by Hopkins.

dactyl Ternary Ternary foot. foot., or long-short-short in cla.s.sical prosody.

denotation The strict, literal meaning of a word, stripped of its The strict, literal meaning of a word, stripped of its connotation connotation q.v., colour, suggestion, implications etc. q.v., colour, suggestion, implications etc.

diacritic -al A sign, such as an accent or cedilla, that goes above or below a letter to indicate a change in p.r.o.nunciation. A sign, such as an accent or cedilla, that goes above or below a letter to indicate a change in p.r.o.nunciation.

diamante Wretchedly silly diamond-shaped verse form in which one word becomes its opposite or ant.i.thesis according to pointless rules that I can't be bothered to go into again. Wretchedly silly diamond-shaped verse form in which one word becomes its opposite or ant.i.thesis according to pointless rules that I can't be bothered to go into again.

diction In poetry, the choice of words. The discourse, frame of reference, atmosphere, coloration and other aspects of word choice are all elements of poetic In poetry, the choice of words. The discourse, frame of reference, atmosphere, coloration and other aspects of word choice are all elements of poetic d d.

didactic Lit. 'teaching'writing that intends (usu. moral) instruction. Lit. 'teaching'writing that intends (usu. moral) instruction.

dieresis Diacritical Diacritical markthe two dots used to show that a markthe two dots used to show that a diphthong diphthong's vowel sounds should be p.r.o.nounced separately, 'Noel', 'naive'; etc. In metre, a word meaning a natural caesura caesura (i.e. one that does not break a word or clause). (i.e. one that does not break a word or clause).

dimeter A verse line of two metric feet. A verse line of two metric feet.

diminis.h.i.+ng rhyme A rhyme scheme where each new rhyme takes a syllable or letter less than its predecessor: A rhyme scheme where each new rhyme takes a syllable or letter less than its predecessor: promotion promotion, emotion, motion, ocean emotion, motion, ocean and and pa.s.sing, arsing, sing pa.s.sing, arsing, sing etc. etc.

diphthong Two vowels together. Two vowels together.

dipodic Composed of two feet (as most humans are). Composed of two feet (as most humans are).

dirge A mourning, wailing lament. A mourning, wailing lament.

dithyramb, dithyrambic Wild choral Dionysiac celebratory verse. Often used to describe overblown poetic Wild choral Dionysiac celebratory verse. Often used to describe overblown poetic diction diction q.v. q.v.

divine afflatus (Now mock comic) phrase used to describe poetic inspiration. (Now mock comic) phrase used to describe poetic inspiration.

dramatic monologue (Non theatrical) verse in the voice of a character, often addressing another imaginary character or the reader him/herself. 'My Last d.u.c.h.ess', 'Andrea del Sarto', sections of (Non theatrical) verse in the voice of a character, often addressing another imaginary character or the reader him/herself. 'My Last d.u.c.h.ess', 'Andrea del Sarto', sections of The Waste Land The Waste Land etc. etc.

eclogue From Virgil, pastoral poem. From Virgil, pastoral poem.

elegiac Of mourning. The elegiac quatrain Of mourning. The elegiac quatrain abab abab in iambic pentameter was developed by Thomas Gray for his country churchyard. in iambic pentameter was developed by Thomas Gray for his country churchyard.

elision The omission of words or parts of words. The omission of words or parts of words.

encomium Praise song or ode for a (usu. living) person. Praise song or ode for a (usu. living) person.

endecasillabo Italian name for a Italian name for a hendecasyllabic hendecasyllabic line of iambic pentameter. line of iambic pentameter.

end-rhyming The rhyming of final words, or final stressed syllables in lines of verse. Usual rhyming, in fact. The rhyming of final words, or final stressed syllables in lines of verse. Usual rhyming, in fact.

end-stopped Lines of verse which do not run on in sense, but whose thought ends with the line. Lines without Lines of verse which do not run on in sense, but whose thought ends with the line. Lines without enjambment enjambment q.v. q.v.

enjambment The running-on of sense over the end of a line of verse. Verse that is not The running-on of sense over the end of a line of verse. Verse that is not end-stopped end-stopped q.v. q.v.

entry Just testing to see whether you had got to Just testing to see whether you had got to q.v. q.v. q.v. yet. q.v. yet.

envelope rhyme A couplet nested in two outer rhymes, as in A couplet nested in two outer rhymes, as in abba abba.

envoi A short stanza of summation or conclusion at the end of a poem. Found in certain closed forms, such as the A short stanza of summation or conclusion at the end of a poem. Found in certain closed forms, such as the sestina sestina and and ballade ballade q.q.v. q.q.v.

epa.n.a.lepsis General word for repet.i.tion or resumption of a theme. General word for repet.i.tion or resumption of a theme.

epanaphora Extreme Extreme anaphora anaphora q.v. As in Wendy Cope's 'My Lover' in which every line begins with the word 'For'. q.v. As in Wendy Cope's 'My Lover' in which every line begins with the word 'For'.

epanodos Recapitulation and expansion of an image or idea. Recapitulation and expansion of an image or idea.

epigram Memorably witty remark, saying or observation. Memorably witty remark, saying or observation.

epistrophe Repet.i.tion at the end of clauses or sentences: 'When I was a child, I spake as I child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child' etc. Repet.i.tion at the end of clauses or sentences: 'When I was a child, I spake as I child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child' etc.