Blank Verse

Blank verse: characteristics

There are two defining characteristics of blank verse. These are its meter and rhyme scheme.

Meter

One of the defining features of blank verse is that it has a regular meter. This means that there will be a consistent number of syllables in each line of the poem. A regular meter is used here as blank verse poems are usually longer narrative poems.

There is no set meter for blank verse, however, most of these poems use iambic pentameter. An iambic pentameter is a popular form of meter as it replicates the natural speech patterns of English. An example of iambic pentameter being used in a blank verse poem is found in 'Fra Lippo Lippi' (1855) by Robert Browning. This poem is a dramatic monologue that uses blank verse and iambic pentameter to make it easier to read.

Rhyme Scheme

The rhyme scheme of a poem has a significant impact on the interpretation of its meaning.

A key trait of blank verse is that there is no rhyme scheme. This means that the end words of each line will not sound alike. The absence of a rhyme scheme means that poets have the most choice in what vocabulary they can use in their poems.

A key way to tell the difference between blank verse and poems written in iambic pentameter is to look for a rhyme scheme. For example, William Shakespeare's poem 'Sonnet 18' (1609) is not written in blank verse, as although it has a consistent meter, there is also a rhyme scheme in the poem. An example of blank verse that uses no rhyme scheme can be seen in 'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey' (1798) by William Wordsworth.

Blank verse: examples and poems

Now that we understand the two key characteristics of blank verse, let's look at some examples of this form.

Robert Frost's poem 'Mending Wall' (1914) is a widely known example of blank verse. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, as evident by the 5 iambs in each line. There is also no rhyme scheme. Frost uses the blank verse in this poem to mimic the structure of a wall. Blank verse allows the poem to be written without stanza breaks, and so if the poem is tipped on its side, it resembles the shape of a wall.

William Butler Yeats uses the blank verse in the poem 'The Second Coming' (1920). The poem discusses themes of religion and violence as well as Irish history. Yeats uses iambic pentameter in this poem, though at times a line will contain 13 syllables instead of 10. It is thought that Yeats chooses to occasionally deviate from the meter to reflect the fearful tone of uncertainty in the poem.

Blank verse vs free verse

Another major form of poetry is free verse. There are some similarities between blank and free verse but other key differences.

Free verse poetry lacks any consistent rhyme scheme or regular meter. This allows poets a lot of freedom as they are not tied to a structure. Free verse has become increasingly popular over the years, in part due to the success of Walt Whitman's poetry collection Leaves of Grass (1855) as well as through the work of Modernist poets such as Ezra Pound and T.S Eliot. An example of a free-verse poem from the 20th century is 'Two-Headed Calf' (1977) by Laura Gilpin.

The table below displays the key differences between the two types of verse,

Blank verse: effects

Blank verse is an effective form of poetry as its meter reflects natural speech patterns. This means that it is easy to understand for readers. Due to this ease, blank verse is especially effective for longer poems. The lack of rhyme scheme is also effective for poets. This is because no rhyme scheme means that poets are not married to a particular set of words. This gives poets more options and thus allows them to be more innovative.