Understanding the Structure of a Poem in Poetry
What is a structure in poetry ? The term structure refers to the arrangement of related parts to form a complex entity. In poetry, the term structure refers to the way a poem is presented to the reader. Part of the structure in poetry includes the organisation and the length of the lines, stanzas, location of the punctuation and even the shape assumed by all these elements while written. The structure of a poem involves the external features of a poem that help the reader to understand its meaning. These features include: Features of structure in poetry Lines Poems are usually organised into lines: an equivalent of sentences in prose writing. However, lines differ from sentences in that they are arranged based on a series of metrical feet, not relatedness. A line of a poem is usually printed on a single line on a page. Where a line of a poem occupies more than one line, an indent is used to show a continuation. Poems are written in verse form that is guided by various conventions that determ…
