Spenserian Sonnet, Haiku, Ballad and other forms

Today is a BIG DAY. As we are a week behind, today we need to cover the rest of our forms: Haiku, Ballad, Syllabic, Quatrain, and Spenerian Sonnet.

1) We also need to discuss: "The Heights of Macchu Picchu".

Neruda's poem is actually the 3rd poem in the book, "The Heights of Macchu Picchu" which is one book in a collection called CANTO GENERAL (which Neruda modeled after LEAVES OF GRASS) and which contains the history of South America (and an unfavorable view of U.S. relations with South American countries). Think IMPERIALISM. SO what is Macchu Picchu about?

2) Spenserian Sonnet:

Invented by Edmund Spenser, author of the classic THE FAERIE QUEENE, it has the pattern: ABABBCBCCDCDEE

The pattern sets up four distinct line-groups (like the English sonnet). The quatrains (ABAB BCBC CDCD) set up three distinct but related ideas and couplet acts as a commentary. Line 9 usually starts the volta.

see Spenser Sonnet 75

3) Haiku - Japanese form traditional: 5,7,5 syllables and unrhymed. A classical haiku must state or imply a season and restrict itself to natural imagery. It is written in simple imagery in the present tense (it is happening now) but it seeks to capture a moment that symbolizes eternity.

4) Syllabic - simply refers to lines with the same number of syllables.

5) Ballad - a narrative verse lyric in any form though it frequently uses a refrain.

6) Quatrains - a four line stanza. It can contain any number of different rhyme schemes.