PO2 - Lesson: Plot and Structure

A garage is pictured with one door open while the other is closed.Plot and Structure

In the last poetry unit, we looked at some applications of poetry with internal structures, especially contrasts within a poem. In this unit, we will look at the structure of poetry as a whole and how it can affect meaning. We will start by making a distinction between closed and open forms, and then show how the form can affect meaning.

Image note: Spot the metaphor! Poetry often speaks in allusions and uses a lot of metaphorical language. Let's use this picture as a stand-in for poetry: note the two garage doors in the picture and contemplate how that relates to the topic of this lesson.

Closed and Open Form

Closed poetic structures and open poetic structures represent two distinct approaches to organizing and shaping poems. In a closed poetic structure, poets adhere to specific rules, such as a predetermined rhyme scheme, meter, or stanza length. This structured format provides a sense of order and control, allowing for a more traditional and often rhythmic presentation of ideas.

On the other hand, open poetic structures embrace a more freeform approach, with poets choosing to forego strict rules, opting for flexibility in rhyme, meter, and stanza length. This open-ended structure allows for greater creativity and spontaneity, enabling poets to experiment with language, form, and expression.

While closed structures offer a sense of tradition and stability, open structures provide a canvas for innovation and individualistic expression, showcasing the diverse possibilities within the realm of poetry. Although it can be helpful to know specific poetic structures by name (i.e. sonnet, villanelle, ode, free verse, etc.. .), it isn’t essential. In fact, if you just identify a poem’s structure, but don’t link the structure to how it affects the overall meaning, you will not score high on the AP Exam.

Practice Activity

To complete the following activity, you will need to use the Poetry Essay Prompts for AP English Literature Exams Links to an external site. handout. Poems in the activity are listed by their title.

Start to explore form by looking at four poems that have been used on the AP Exam (the year of the AP exam is included in parenthesis):

  • "There Once Was A Boy" by William Wordsworth (1985)
  • "The Cross of Snow" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (2013B)
  • "The Myth of Music: For My Father" by Rachel M. Harper (2017)
  • "Shaving" by Richard Blanco (2022)

You will see that most of the poems follow some type of closed form, even if the lines don’t rhyme or there aren’t stanzas. Match each of the following poems with the description of its form.

Reflection

Identifying whether the poem is in a closed or open form is a simple step that can help with analysis. Remember that with poetic structures, the most important question to consider is how the structure contributes to the overall meaning of the poem. By using words like “emphasizing,” “underscores,” “enhances,” and “mirrors,” you can ensure that you are shifting from identification of the form to analyzing how the form affects meaning.

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