Blank Verse 101

In this class, we will briefly explore the classical roots of and basis for blank verse written in the English language and the basic elements of writing a blank verse poem--Iambic pentameter writing skills and learning how not to rhyme when writing poetry. The class will be interactive with students participating in classroom discussions as well as reading and reviewing each other's homework. It is through an interactive process I find students learn best.

Week 1: The What: Basics.
In the first session, we will spend a little time getting to know each other and will explore how blank verse is indeed a well-known and utilized poetic form in the English language. We will discuss the elements of writing in iambic pentameter and how to ensure one is not writing in the vernacular vs. standard English. We will discuss how utilization of literary techniques such as alliteration, enjambment, metaphor and simile serve to enhance blank verse and move the reader beyond his 'looking for end rhyme.' (This will be a theme in each of the classes) We will review several blank verse poems from the literature as a means to see how the form is utilized.

Week 2: What's in a Rhyme?
In this session, we will review and discuss the homework and then we will learn about the different kinds of rhyme--perfect, general, slant, identical and eye. It is important to understand how words rhyme, even with those words with which we can't hear the rhyme sound all that well, if we're to avoid using them in our blank verse. This is critical since blank verse prohibits the use of internal line rhyme as well as end rhyme.

Week 3: Write a Blank Verse Poem
In this session we will discuss the homework assigned for the class and learn from each other our impressions and insights gained from the homework and fellow students' feedback. We will discuss the literary techniques you used and how they help enhance the read and flow of your poetry. We will discuss pitfalls in writing blank verse as well as tips-of-the-trade in ensuring the verse is well written.

Week 4: Write a Contest-Ready Blank Verse Poem
In this session, we will discuss the homework assigned for the class and focus on how our writings can be improved and ready for entry in a blank verse contest (optional, only if you want to enter). While this will be the final class, I will be glad to work with students working on perfecting their blank verse for the contest as well as helping them continue to work on their homework.



Instructor: Ray Griffin

About The Instructor: Ray earned his BA, with honors in a double major in history and political science and a minor in German (4 hours short of a third major) from Atlantic Christian College, now Barton. He earned his MA in public administration with a minor in city and regional planning, with honors, from North Carolina State University. He has also taken post-graduate work at the University of Virginia and University of Oklahoma-Norman in high performance organization results and economic development; respectively.

After graduation, and during his tenure in local government management, he served as an adjunct professor of Political Science at Webster University and University of North Carolina-Pembroke.

Ray has been writing poetry for many decades as well as specialized, technical writing. He has written three comprehensive genealogy/family history books and has had senryu published in Prune Juice, an on-line poetry magazine. He has also published many Chap Books featuring his favorite poetry. Ray writes extensively in blank verse, tanka and Shakespearean sonnet poetic forms. These are his favorite poetic forms in which to write, particularly blank verse. Ray has been an active member, poet and member of FanStory since 2009.