Understanding Villanelles and Their Structure

The video introduces the Villanelle, a 19-line poem with a specific structure and rhyme scheme. It explains the poem's stanzas, refrains, and traditional iambic pentameter. The form's circular nature affects tone and mood, often addressing personal themes. The Villanelle's history is traced back to French poet Passerat, who was inspired by Italian harvesters' songs. The video concludes with a preview of the next session.

What is the structure of a Villanelle poem?

• 20 lines with a rhyme scheme of abba

• 19 lines with a rhyme scheme of aba and abaa

• 14 lines with a rhyme scheme of abab

• 12 lines with a rhyme scheme of aabb

How many stanzas does a Villanelle typically have?

• Four

• Five

• Six

• Seven

What is the rhyme scheme of the last stanza in a Villanelle?

• abba

• abaa

• aabb

• abab

In a Villanelle, how is the first line of the first stanza used?

• It is repeated as the last line of the sixth stanza.

• It is repeated as the last line of the third and fifth stanzas.

• It is not repeated at all.

• It is repeated as the last line of the second and fourth stanzas.

What is the traditional meter used in Villanelles?

• Trochaic tetrameter

• Dactylic hexameter

• Iambic pentameter

• Anapestic trimeter

What is the nature of a Villanelle poem?

• Narrative

• Expository

• Descriptive

• Circular

How does the circular nature of a Villanelle affect its tone?

• It makes the poem more complex.

• It simplifies the poem's structure.

• It creates a sense of ongoing thoughts and feelings.

• It makes the poem more linear.

What is the effect of iambic pentameter in a Villanelle?

• It makes the poem sound like a song.

• It mimics the rhythm of a heartbeat.

• It disrupts the flow of the poem.

• It creates a chaotic rhythm.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a Villanelle?

• Refrains

• Narrative style

• Iambic pentameter

• Circular structure

What does the repetition of refrains in a Villanelle allow the writer to express?

• A sense of closure

• A linear storyline

• A historical event

• Ongoing nature of thoughts and feelings