Poetic methods
Form
| Form | Example | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Sonnet | Remember: 14 lines, with a turn at line 9 | Traditionally a love poem; the turn changes the argument |
| Ballad | Hardy's poem: short stanzas, a steady beat, rhyme | Feels like a simple song or story, which can make sad events more moving |
| Free verse | No regular rhyme or rhythm | Sounds natural, like speech or thought |
| Dramatic monologue | One character speaking to a listener | Reveals the speaker's character, sometimes without them knowing |
Always ask why the poet chose this form for this subject.
Key terms
Structure
| Method | Example | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Enjambment | ‘Gently its touch awoke him once, / At home’ (Futility) | The line flows on, like a memory unfolding |
| Caesura | ‘Woke, once, the clays of a cold star.’ (Futility) | Pauses slow the line, adding weight |
| Volta | ‘Yet if you should forget me for a while’ (Remember) | The speaker changes her mind |
| Repetition | ‘Remember me’ (Remember) | Shows how much she needs to be remembered |
| Stanzas | Futility's two stanzas | Hope in the first gives way to despair in the second |
Key terms
Sound and rhythm
| Method | Example | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Rhyme | ‘rest’ and ‘west’ (Hardy) | Gives a steady, song-like sound |
| Half-rhyme | ‘sun’ and ‘unsown’ (Futility) | Sounds nearly but not quite right, creating unease |
| Alliteration | ‘clays of a cold star’ (Futility) | Hard sounds make the line feel bleak |
| Sibilance | ‘silent land’ (Remember) | Soft ‘s’ sounds create a hushed mood |
| Metre | Remember's steady rhythm | A calm, controlled voice, even when talking about death |
Key terms
Language and imagery
| Method | Example | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Personification | ‘The kind old sun will know’ (Futility) | The sun seems like a caring friend, which makes its failure sadder |
| Euphemism | ‘the silent land’ (Remember) | A gentle way of describing death |
| Rhetorical question | ‘Was it for this the clay grew tall?’ (Futility) | Shows anger and despair; there is no answer |
| Imagery | ‘Strange stars’ (Hardy) | The soldier is far from home, even in death |
Common mistake
Naming a method earns little. Always explain its effect, and link it to the question.