A Question about Strophes

[PhilipWright]

I've noticed that the term 'strophe' is used a lot on this site. Can anyone tell me what it means?

I looked it up in a net dictionary of poetic terms (can't remember which one) and it says:

STROPHE (STROH-fee)
In modern poetry, a stanza or rhythmic system of two or more lines arranged as a unit.

This seems a little vague. I mean, how do I know where one strophe ends and another one starts? Why not say stanza, or sentence, or clause?

I hope this is the right place to ask a question like this.

Philip

[JohnBoddie]

Philip,

"strophe" is used to mean stanza, more or less, but is differentiated since a stanza is generally demarcated by a rhyme sequence or a regular line structure (a poem presented in quatrains for example). "strophe" can be applied to include single lines as well (despite what your dictionary says.)

Strophes are separated by white space on the page.

Think of a stanza as a specific form of a strophe and you won't go far wrong.

JB

[This message has been edited by JohnBoddie (edited 01-10-2001).]

[This message has been edited by JohnBoddie (edited 01-10-2001).]

[Erika S]

alright, so what's an antistrophe and an epode?

:/

-Erika

[Gabe1]

Originally posted by ericaeatscrayons:
alright, so what's an antistrophe and an epode?

:/

-Erika

ANTISTROPHE (an-TIS-troh-fee)
The second division in the triadic structure of Pindaric verse, corresponding metrically to the strophe; also, the stanza following or alternating with and responding to the strophe in ancient lyric poetry; also, in rhetoric, the reversal of terms mutually dependent on each other, as from "the captain of the crew" to "the crew of the captain."

EPODE (EHP-ode)
A type of lyric poem in which a long verse is followed by a shorter one, or the third and last part of an ode; also, the third part of a triadic Greek poem or Pindaric verse following the strophe and the antistrophe.

[Erika S]

Thanks!

[PhilipWright]

JB,

Thanks for the clarification.

Philip