Do you know what a stanza is?
Stanza it's the set of two or more verses that organize the compositional structure of texts/discursive genrespoetic, like the poems and the lyrics.
In order for us to reflect on this subject, it is important that we review some important concepts. Come on?
You poetic texts are structured in verses, that is, in lines that present sense units and, in many cases, sound effects/rhythm, like the rhymes.
In studies on the modern poetry, at stanzas are defined as each of the sections that constitute a poem. Each section is composed by verse grouping, rhymed or not, with unity of sense and rhythm. O start it's the Final decade poem stanza are delimited with blank spaces. This structure reveals the rhythmic pause which must be considered while reading the text.
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Note how the poem was structured "Sonnet of Loyalty", in Vinicius de Moraes, from your verses, stanzas and rhymes:
Loyalty Sonnet
I will be attentive of everything to my love (verse 1)
Before, and with such zeal, and always, and so much (verse 2)
That even in the face of the greatest charm (verse 3)
Of him my thoughts become more enchanted. (verse 4) → (Verses 1, 2, 3 and 4/quartet: 1st Stanza)
I want to live it at every moment (verse 1)
And in your praise I will spread my song (verse 2)
And laugh my laugh and shed my tears (verse 3)
Your grief or your contentment. (verse 4) → (Verses 1, 2, 3, and 4/quartet: 2nd Stanza)
And so, when you come to me later (verse 1)
Maybe death, the anguish of those who live (verse 2)
Who knows loneliness, end of those who love. (verse 3) → (Verses 1, 2, 3/tercet: 3rd Stanza)
I can tell myself about the love I had (verse 2)
That it is not immortal, since it is flame (verse 2)
But let it be infinite while it lasts. (verse 3) → (verses 1, 2 and 3/tercet: 4th stanza)
(MORAES, Vinicius de. Poetic Anthology. Rio de Janeiro: Editora do Autor, 1960, p. 96.)
Stay tuned: O poem de Vinicius de Moraes not only receives the name, but is also classified as a sonnet, that is, a poem composed by four stanzas, the first two being structured by four verses (quartets) and the other two stanzas composed of three verses (tercets).
classification of stanzas
The stanzas are classified according to the number of verses that compose them. Look:
Number of verses |
Stanza |
| 2 | couplet |
| 3 | Triplet |
| 4 | Quartet |
| 5 | Quintet/Quintilla |
| 6 | Sextet/Sextile |
| 7 | Seventh/Septille |
| 8 | eighth |
| 9 | Novena/Ninth |
| 10 | From above |
Click on here and learn more about the rhyme classification. Good studies!
By Ma. Luciana Kuchenbecker Araújo
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
ARAúJO, Luciana Kuchenbecker. "What is a stanza?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/o-que-e/portugues/o-que-estrofe.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
