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Analyzing and Interpreting Literature / Unit 8   AIL 0707 short lesson, about 20 seconds

The Villanelle as a Fixed Form

Captions available

The idea

The glossary defines a villanelle as nineteen lines in five tercets and a quatrain, turning on two repeated lines. Nineteen lines with heavy repetition is a signature no other form has, so the count alone identifies it. Both poems the glossary names are in copyright and are named only.

In practice

Nineteen lines, two lines repeating.

Where people slip

Both named villanelles are in copyright.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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