Techniques — Ellis Campbell, 10. The Important First Stanza & 11. Metaphor & Simile
Ellis Campbell’s Writing Techniques — 10.
Importance of the First Stanza
The first stanza of a poem is actually an introduction and very
important. It should be attention grabbing, or at least interesting
enough to urge readers to read on. If the first stanza is boring or
awkward to read the chances are the reader might abandon that poem and
search for something more interesting. A pity because he/she could be
missing what is otherwise a good poem.
Also, very importantly, the first stanza sets the rhyming and metre
pattern of your poem. It is there that you decide how many lines are to
be in the stanzas, if your rhyming pattern is to be AABBCC — ABABCDCD
— AABCCB or whatever else you might choose.
Are you going to have 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 syllables in each
line? Are your lines going to be identical or alternate lines be of
different length? Is your stress pattern going to be Iambus or Trochee,
or are you going to use both by alternating each line. If so the
rhyming pattern is usually ABABCDCD and the Iambic lines should rhyme
with each other, likewise the Trochiac lines.
I’d advise anyone to take great care with that first stanza. Are you having
trouble with your rhymes? Does the metre seem awkward and hard to
maintain? Suitable descriptive words hard to find? I can assure you
that if your first stanza gives trouble, there’s heaps more trouble
ahead!
Take plenty
of time with the first stanza — it will save you time and problems
later in the poem. Keep at it until you are happy with the rhymes and
the metre flows comfortably. Don’t choose a rhyme and rhythm pattern
that is too difficult to maintain. As I have said many times: keep it
simple and make it sound natural. You might get a buzz by writing a
highly flamboyant stanza with fancy rhymes and complicated stress
pattern. But by the end of the poem you will be a nervous wreck trying
to stick to it. What you thought was going to be something special will
turn out a bloody mess and you will have shown that you are way out of
your depth.
Ellis Campbell’s Writing Techniques — 11. Metaphors and Similes
Metaphors and Similes are handy tools a poet regularly uses. The idea
is to look for fresh ones, rather than use those that are growing
ragged through over use.
A simile says something is “like” something else. “The track was like a
winding snake.” “The house looked like a palace.” “The
horse’s coat was as black as ink.” “The lambs were as white as snow.”
In contrast a metaphor says something “is” another thing. “The sun was a
hazy fire-ball.” “The centre-back is a prowling tiger.” “The cockatoo
is king of the mountain.” “The train is a silver bullet.” “The sea is a
raging monster.”
Some poets occasionally
write a poem with an Extended Metaphor. For example eleven year old
Tommy, in a fantasy poem, might be the Flying Crusader. Throughout the
poem he would not return to ordinary little Tommy, but would always be
referred to as some kind of superior being. I think this would be quite
difficult to do and cannot recall trying it myself.
Cliches are phrases that have been popular for a long time and get over worked.
“As black as coal.” “Cunning as a fox.” “Like the driven snow.” “Wild
as a march hare.” “Game as Ned Kelly.” Many of these are extremely
clever if we stop to think about them. “As mad as a cut snake.” Can you
imagine anything quite as angry as a castrated taipan? “Every little
bit helps” said the old woman as she did a wee in the sea. The effect
would be rather minimal, wouldn’t it?
Popular
cliches are used so regularly that we say them without thinking and
they therefore lose impact. In short these are so popular that we have
worn them out. Competition judges and publishers frown quite heavily on
cliches, so it is best to avoid them. But some of these are so clever
that its hard to find a replacement. But we may as well try — as I’ve
often said, “Don’t handicap yourself.”
Articles
- David Campbell —
From a Judge’s Desk - Glenny Palmer —
An Exercise in Writing Humour
“Unstrained Melody” writing tools - Ellis Campbell —
1. Rhyme and Reason
2. Rhyme
3. Metre
4. Pattern
5. Words
6. Poetic Terminology
7. Inverted Phrases
8. Don’t Make Your Poems Too Personal
9. Terminology
10. Importance of First Stanza
11. Metaphors and Similes
Finally...
But... - Noel Stallard —
Performance Tips