Couplet

History of couplets

The word couplet is derived from the Latin word 'copula', meaning 'bond' or 'link'. In French, 'couplet' refers to two pieces of iron connected together by a rivet or hinge. In poetry, the lines in a couplet are linked by the same idea or thought that connects them.

It was during the Elizabethan age (1558 – 1603) when attention was drawn towards couplets as a literary device. English poets started using it to establish patterns in verse.

Sir Philip Sidney was the first to use the term couplet to refer to verses. In his book Arcadia (1590), Sidney defined a couplet as a set of two lines, the first posing a question which is answered by the second line; i.e. they are both connected by the same idea or thought.

Couplet poem

Couplets may be stand alone or within a longer stanza. A stand alone couplet is also called a couplet poem. It is a short poem that consist of a single couplet (two lines).

Couplet poems are usually made of a rhyming couplet and they're often written for children. Let's look at a more simple example that could be aimed at a younger audience:

Features of a couplet

Now we will explore the different features of a couplet.

Meter

Meter determines the length of a particular line. It is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that creates a rhythm in a poem. The units of meter are called feet, and they may be of different patterns.

These poetic meters are determined by the type and number of feet used. For instance, iambic pentameter is a type of metric pattern that contains five iambs. In other words, each line has ten syllables; five alternating sets of unstressed-stressed syllables.

Rhyme scheme

Most poets use end rhymes, which are rhyming words at the end of the sentence that follow a particular pattern, which is often repeated. This pattern is called a rhyme scheme. The letters of the alphabet are used to denote the rhyme scheme. For example, a couplet that ends with rhyming words will have the rhyme scheme of AA, and one that doesn’t rhyme - AB. Based on this they are either called rhyming couplets or unrhyming couplets.

Couplet examples

Couplets can be categorised based on their meter, rhyme scheme or origin. Let's look at some examples of the different types of couplet.

Rhyming couplet example

A rhyming couplet is a couplet which consists of two equally long lines that rhyme. A rhyming couplet has a rhyme scheme of AA.

Heroic couplet example

This is one of the most common types of couplets found in English poetry. The characteristic feature of heroic couplets is that they follow iambic pentameter.

Split couplet example

Split couplets have different rhythms in both lines; they have asymmetric rhythms. The first line is in iambic pentameter (five beats) and the second in iambic dimeter (two beats).

In the above couplet, the first line has five beats whereas the second line has only two beats.

Open couplet example

A couplet in which the first line flows into the second one to form a continuous sentence is called an open couplet. They are also called run-on couplets.

In the above couplet, the first line runs into the second one, to form a complete grammatically correct unit.

Closed couplet example

A couplet that has two separate whole sentences is called a closed couplet or a formal couplet.

In the above couplet, both lines are separated into complete sentences (in this case questions).

The importance of couplets

Couplets are a literary device used in poetry as they express an idea in a concise and memorable way. Through the use of couplets the poet can achieve rhythm, imagery and emphasis. Most importantly, poets choose to include couplets so that their poems are memorable.