Glossary of Literary Terms

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

villanelle: A poem that contains five three-line stanzas and a final four-line stanza. Only two rhyme sounds are permitted in the entire poem, and the first and third lines of the first stanza are repeated, alternately, as the third line of subsequent three-line stanzas; the last stanza ends with these two lines. Like the sestina, the villanelle is a circular form; its movement recalls a dance, and indeed it was originally derived from an Italian folk song. For a loose example, see Rita Dove, "Parsley: 1. The Cane Fields" (1983); for a stricter example, see Dylan Thomas, "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" [1952]).

vowel rhyme: Rhyme words that have only their vowel sounds in common. For example, see Dylan Thomas, "Fern Hill" (1946): boughs / towns, green / leaves, etc.