20 Questions
What is a characteristic of free verse poetry?
It has a more personal and confessional feel
What is the poem 'Two-Headed Calf' about?
A calf with a rare birth defect
What is the effect of the line breaks in 'Two-Headed Calf'?
They get the audience's attention
What is the tone of 'Two-Headed Calf'?
Peaceful and serene
What is the purpose of the literary devices in 'Two-Headed Calf'?
To convey a sense of emotion and atmosphere
When did 'Two-Headed Calf' rise to prominence online?
2019
What is the central image of 'Two-Headed Calf'?
A calf with a rare birth defect
Why do free verse poets often use the first person?
To create a sense of intimacy and personal connection
What is the effect of the poem's use of similes and metaphors?
It conveys a sense of emotion and atmosphere
What is the overall mood of 'Two-Headed Calf'?
One of peace and wonder
What is the primary reason why free verse poets like Limón often write in the first person?
To convey a more personal and confessional tone
What literary device is NOT typically used in free verse poetry?
Rhyme
What is the overall structure of free verse poetry?
Unstructured with no rhyme or meter
What is unique about the number of stars in the poem 'Two-Headed Calf'?
There are twice as many stars as usual
Why did 'Two-Headed Calf' suddenly become popular online in 2019?
There is no clear reason stated in the text
What is the setting of the poem 'Two-Headed Calf'?
A farm
What is the mood of the poem 'Two-Headed Calf' on the evening described?
Peaceful
What is the fate of the two-headed calf in the poem?
It will be wrapped in newspaper and taken to the museum
What is the significance of the line breaks in 'Two-Headed Calf'?
They get the reader's attention
What is the central theme of 'Two-Headed Calf'?
The uniqueness of the natural world
Study Notes
Free Verse Poetry
- Free verse is a poetic technique that doesn't follow a specific rhyme or meter.
- It originated from the French term "vers libre", which means "free verse".
- Free verse poems are distinct from regular prose writing because they use figurative language and intentional line breaks to create a specific poetic effect.
Definition of Free Verse
- A free verse literary definition is any poem that doesn't follow a specific meter or rhyme scheme.
- Some poems may feature occasional rhymes or rhythmic elements, but are inconsistent in their application and still qualify as free verse.
Features of Free Verse
- Free verse is sometimes called free-form poetry.
- It has some formal features, including:
- Intentional line breaks to create a specific effect.
- Strophe: a group of lines separated from the lines of poetry around them.
- Parallelism: the use of similar grammatical structures for effect.
- Free verse poems often follow a more natural rhythm of speech than metered poems.
Comparison to Other Poetic Styles
- Blank verse vs. free verse: blank verse follows a set meter but doesn't rhyme, while free verse has no specific meter or rhyme scheme.
- Example of blank verse: John Milton's "Paradise Lost" (epic poem written in unrhymed iambic pentameter).
History of Free Verse
- Free verse has existed in poetry for a long time, but it became more popular in the 20th century.
- Examples of early free verse works include:
- Some Psalms in the King James Bible.
- The Song of Solomon.
- Victorian-era poets like Christina Rossetti and Matthew Arnold.
- The French developed "vers libre" in the late 1800s.
Famous Free Verse Poets
- Walt Whitman: contributed greatly to free form poetry.
- Ezra Pound: used repetition and specific structural elements in his free verse poetry.
- H.D. (Hilda Doolittle): used varying stanza lengths and short, punchy lines in her free verse poetry.
- T.S. Eliot: used free verse to communicate states of alienation and anxiety in his Modernist poetry.
- Allen Ginsberg: wrote "Howl" in free verse with very long individual lines.
- William Carlos Williams: wrote short, evocative free verse poems.
- E.E. Cummings: used both free verse and creative punctuation in his poetry.
Free Verse Poem Examples
- Walt Whitman's "A Noiseless Patient Spider" (uses parallelism and consonance to build structure and meaning).
- William Carlos Williams' "This Is Just To Say" (uses line breaks to create a poetic effect).
- T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" (monologue-style free verse poem about a man struggling to understand his place in the world).
- Seamus Heaney's "Postscript" (free verse poem with a conversational feel).
- Ada Limón's "Lies About Sea Creatures" (free verse poem with a personal and confessional feel).
- Laura Gilpin's "Two-Headed Calf" (free verse poem that conveys a simple and beautiful poetic image).
Free Verse Poetry
- Free verse is a poetic technique that doesn't follow a specific rhyme or meter.
- It originated from the French term "vers libre", which means "free verse".
- Free verse poems are distinct from regular prose writing because they use figurative language and intentional line breaks to create a specific poetic effect.
Definition of Free Verse
- A free verse literary definition is any poem that doesn't follow a specific meter or rhyme scheme.
- Some poems may feature occasional rhymes or rhythmic elements, but are inconsistent in their application and still qualify as free verse.
Features of Free Verse
- Free verse is sometimes called free-form poetry.
- It has some formal features, including:
- Intentional line breaks to create a specific effect.
- Strophe: a group of lines separated from the lines of poetry around them.
- Parallelism: the use of similar grammatical structures for effect.
- Free verse poems often follow a more natural rhythm of speech than metered poems.
Comparison to Other Poetic Styles
- Blank verse vs. free verse: blank verse follows a set meter but doesn't rhyme, while free verse has no specific meter or rhyme scheme.
- Example of blank verse: John Milton's "Paradise Lost" (epic poem written in unrhymed iambic pentameter).
History of Free Verse
- Free verse has existed in poetry for a long time, but it became more popular in the 20th century.
- Examples of early free verse works include:
- Some Psalms in the King James Bible.
- The Song of Solomon.
- Victorian-era poets like Christina Rossetti and Matthew Arnold.
- The French developed "vers libre" in the late 1800s.
Famous Free Verse Poets
- Walt Whitman: contributed greatly to free form poetry.
- Ezra Pound: used repetition and specific structural elements in his free verse poetry.
- H.D. (Hilda Doolittle): used varying stanza lengths and short, punchy lines in her free verse poetry.
- T.S. Eliot: used free verse to communicate states of alienation and anxiety in his Modernist poetry.
- Allen Ginsberg: wrote "Howl" in free verse with very long individual lines.
- William Carlos Williams: wrote short, evocative free verse poems.
- E.E. Cummings: used both free verse and creative punctuation in his poetry.
Free Verse Poem Examples
- Walt Whitman's "A Noiseless Patient Spider" (uses parallelism and consonance to build structure and meaning).
- William Carlos Williams' "This Is Just To Say" (uses line breaks to create a poetic effect).
- T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" (monologue-style free verse poem about a man struggling to understand his place in the world).
- Seamus Heaney's "Postscript" (free verse poem with a conversational feel).
- Ada Limón's "Lies About Sea Creatures" (free verse poem with a personal and confessional feel).
- Laura Gilpin's "Two-Headed Calf" (free verse poem that conveys a simple and beautiful poetic image).
Learn about the poetic technique of free verse, its definition, and how it differs from regular prose writing. Discover the characteristics of free verse poetry.
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