Response Journal #2

How does form (structure, rhythm, meter, line breaks) affect meaning in poetry?
Writers use different elements of form to alter the message and feeling of the poem.
Structure is used to organize the poem. For example, a free verse poem would feel much less organized than a poem with a specific number of lines in each stanza. Additionally, a haiku or a sonnet would seem extremely orderly compared to a free verse.
Rhythm makes the poem flow. Without rhythm, the reader will stumble over the words and lines with little meaning. If there is a poetic beat that goes along with the words and syllables, it makes poetry much more enjoyable and generally easier to understand.
Meter affects how a poem sounds. The syllables which make up the feet in each meter are based upon the words used and where the accents should be emphasized. These syllables and accents within the feet and meters ultimately develop the rhythm of the poem.
Line breaks contribute greatly to the meaning of a poem. Some poets put line breaks in at the natural pause of the poem (where commas or periods would otherwise be placed). Other times, poets will place a line break in the middle of a 'sentence' so the reader is forced onto the next line without completing the meaning of that sentence. This makes poetry more interesting, and often plays with the words. The meaning of a line at its line break could be much different than the meaning of that line combined with the following line.
Overall, there are an infinite number of ways to write a poem when we consider all the elements of form. Each element adds something to the meaning, and it is important to represent the message and feelings one wants to associate with the poem.