Limerick, villanelle, pantoum, sestina. Some forms of poetry come with rules about the subject or theme (odes, elegy) and some come with strict rules about the number of lines, stanzas, rhyme, refrain etc. Choosing a poetic form to explore can be a ‘way in’ for students to begin to understand how important it is to choose words with care. This workshop will look at certain forms in order to ‘have a go’ at producing original poetry that follows well established rules. The aim is for students to develop a more disciplined approach to writing through imitation or pastiche before branching out and developing their own style of writing.
