-
Skip These Ads
-
Skip These Ads|
|
 |
Click here and add this page to your favorites!
|
Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: SOU-STE |
|
|
SPENSERIAN STANZA , a form of verse which derives its name from the fact that it was invented by the poet Edniund Spenser, and first used in his Faery Queene in 1590. The origin of this stanza has been matter for disagreement among critics of prosody. Schipper has argued that it was adapted from the oid French ballade-stanza (see BALLADE). But it is much More probable that it was of Italian origin, and that Spenser, who was familiar with ottava rimy as it had long been employed in Italy, and was at that very time being used by the school of Tasso, added a line between the Italian fourth and fifth, modified slightly the arrangements of rhyme, and added a foot to the last line, which became an Alexandrine. The form of the pure Spenserian stanza can best be observed by the study of a specimen from the Faery Queene: Into the inmost temple thus I came, Which fuming all with frankincense I found, And odours rising from the altar's flame. Upon a hundred marble pillars roundThe roof up high was reared from the ground, All decked with crowns and chains and garlands gay, And thousand precious gifts worth many a pound, The which sad lovers for their vows did pay, And all the ground was strow'd with flowers
It is necessary to preserve in all respects the characteristics of this example, and the number, regular sequences and identity of rhymes must be followed. It is a curious fact that, in spite of the very great
sixth
1 See Conversations with Drummond, Shakespeare Society, PP. 7, 12. Thomson, in The Castle of Indolence (1748). Mrs Tighe (1772-181o) used it for her once-famous epic of Psyche. It was a favourite form at the time of the romantic revival, when it was employed by Campbell, for his Gertrude of Wyoming
Shelley , in The Revolt of Islam (Liston and Cythna) (1818) ; by Mrs Hemans; by Reginald Heber ; but pre-eminently by Byron, in Childe Harold (1812-1817). Thomas
translation
End of Article: SPENSERIAN STANZA If you wish, you can link directly to this article.
<a href="http://jcsm.org/StudyCenter/Encyclopedia/SOU_STE/SPENSERIAN_STANZA.html"> SPENSERIAN STANZA </a> |
|
|
(Previous) SPENSER, JOHN (1559-1614) |
(Next) SPERANSKI, COUNT MIKHAIL MIKHAILOVICH (1772-1839) |
Jesus Christ Saves Ministries, P.O. Box 70696, Pasadena, CA 91117JCSM is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization. Copyright © 1997-present. |
Free & Cheap Cell
Phones |
Cheap Long Distance
Phone Service Carriers |
Talk America Local Phone Service
|
Ztel & MCI - Unlimited Long Distance
Compare
Cell Phone Plans & Companies |
International Calling Cards & Prepaid Phone Cards |
Voice Over IP Broadband Internet Phone
Service | Wireless
Phone Plans & Cheap Cell Phones
|
_____________________________________________________________________________
Online First Aid and CPR Certification . The Online Christ Centered Ministries . The Skeptic's Annotated Bible: Corrected and Explained . The Inerrancy Discussion Board . Free Email Accounts . Home Equity Loans . JasonGastrich.com . The Missions, Apologetics, and Creation Bible Conference . Young Earth Creation Science . San Diego Music Lessons . 10,000 Wise Quotes and Spiritual Sayings . Gastrich.net . Maximizing the Internet: 12 Keys to Success . Louisiana Baptist University . NKJV Web Hosting and Services . Michael Newdow . San Diego Soccer Training . Christian Guitar Lessons . Jesus Christ Saves Ministries . Eternal Security
