Meaning & use
stanza
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Meaning
nouncountable
A group of lines in a poem that form a unit, separated from other groups by a space.
Grammar: Countable: a stanza, two stanzas. Often used with 'first', 'second', etc.
Patterns
- the first stanza
- a stanza of four lines
- in the second stanza
The poem has five stanzas, each with four lines.
She read the first stanza aloud to the class.
The rhyme scheme changes in the final stanza.
Word forms
| plural | stanzas |
|---|
Common combinations
- first stanza
- The first stanza sets the scene of the poem.
- final stanza
- The final stanza repeats the opening line.
- stanza form
- The poet used a traditional stanza form.
- a stanza of four lines
- Each stanza of four lines follows the same rhyme pattern.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- stanzaic adjective
- Relating to or consisting of stanzas.
Commonly confused: stanza or verse?
stanza vs verse
Verse can refer to poetry in general or a single line, while stanza specifically means a grouped unit of lines.
Practice
In poetry, what is a stanza?
Choose one answer.
A stanza is a group of lines that form a unit, like a paragraph in prose. A single line is a verse, and the rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes, not the grouping itself.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “stanza”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.