The term “villanelle” originates from the Italian word “villanella,” which signifies a rustic song or dance often performed by peasants. This etymological root traces back to the Latin “villanus,” meaning a farmhand or peasant, and further to “villa,” denoting a country estate or farm.
Literal and Conceptual Meanings
Literal Meaning
Conceptual Meaning
A rustic song or dance performed by peasants.
A fixed nineteen-line poetic form with a cyclical structure and specific rhyme scheme.
A type of Italian folk music associated with rural life.
A poetic form known for its melancholic tone and themes of loss, longing, or obsession.
A poetic form that creates a sense of musicality and repetition.
The villanelle, a structured poetic form originating in French literature, is distinguished by its intricate rhyme scheme and repeated refrains. Comprising nineteen lines organized into five tercets followed by a concluding quatrain, the villanelle employs a strict pattern of alternating refrains that imbue the poem with thematic resonance and rhythmic intensity. This formal structure not only shapes the poem’s musicality but also serves as a vehicle for exploring complex emotions and philosophical themes through the interplay of repeated lines, showcasing the poet’s skill in balancing artistic constraint with creative expression. Scholars analyze the villanelle for its disciplined form and its capacity to evoke varied interpretations through the manipulation of recurring motifs, making it a significant literary device in the study of poetic composition and thematic development.
Types of Villanelle
Type of Villanelle
Features
Examples
Traditional Villanelle
– 19 lines: five tercets (3-line stanzas) and one quatrain (4-line stanza) / – Two repeating rhymes: ABA rhyme scheme for tercets and ABAA for the quatrain / – Two refrains: the first and third lines of the first tercet alternate as the last line of each subsequent tercet and form the final couplet of the quatrain
– “Do not go gentle into that good night” by Dylan Thomas / – “The Waking” by Theodore Roethke / – “Mad Girl’s Love Song” by Sylvia Plath
Modified Villanelle
– May deviate from the traditional 19-line structure / – Variations in the rhyme scheme / – Retains the essence of repetition and cyclical structure
– “Song” by John Fuller / – “Villanelle” by Marilyn Hacker / – “The Lie” by Anne Waldman
Expanded Villanelle
– Extends beyond the traditional 19-line structure / – Incorporates multiple refrains / – Retains cyclical nature and repetition of lines
– “One Art” by Elizabeth Bishop (modified/expanded villanelle) / – “The Cane Fields” by Rita Dove
Experimental Villanelle
– Freely experiments with form and structure / – May include non-traditional elements like visual or concrete poetry / – Retains spirit of repetition and circularity
– “Cut” by Sylvia Plath (significant deviation from traditional form) / – “Villanelle for an Anniversary” by John Ashbery (incorporates prose elements)
Features of Villanelle
Feature
Description
Lines
19 lines total: five tercets (3-line stanzas) and one quatrain (4-line stanza)
The first and third lines of the first tercet are repeated alternately as the last line of each following tercet, and then together as the final two lines of the quatrain
Rhyme Scheme
ABA in each tercet, ABAA in the quatrain
Cyclical Structure
Repetition of refrains and rhyme scheme creates a sense of musicality and circularity
Villanelle in Literature: Examples
Villanelle
Poet
Features
Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
Dylan Thomas
Powerful refrains (“Do not go gentle into that good night,” “Rage, rage against the dying of the light”), passionate tone, themes of mortality and defiance
The Waking
Theodore Roethke
Evocative imagery of nature, exploration of consciousness and awakening, subtle shift in tone from uncertainty to acceptance
One Art
Elizabeth Bishop
Masterful use of understatement and irony, exploration of loss and the art of losing, gradual acceptance of grief
Mad Girl’s Love Song
Sylvia Plath
Haunting refrains (“I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead,” “I think I made you up inside my head”), raw emotion, themes of madness and unrequited love
The Lie
Anne Waldman
Contemporary villanelle, explores themes of deception and self-deception, fragmented and disjointed structure
Villanelle in Literature: Relevance in Literary Theories
Formalism: The villanelle’s strict form and intricate structure make it a prime example for formalist analysis. Its repetitive refrains, cyclical nature, and rhyme scheme create a sense of unity and inevitability, while also offering opportunities for variation and subversion. Formalists would examine how these formal elements contribute to the poem’s meaning and emotional impact.
Structuralism: Structuralists would approach the villanelle by examining its underlying patterns and relationships. They might analyze the binary oppositions present in the poem, such as life and death, presence and absence, or love and loss. The repetitive nature of the villanelle, with its recurring refrains, could be seen as a manifestation of underlying structures or codes that shape our understanding of the world.
Reader-Response Criticism: Reader-response critics would focus on the individual reader’s experience of the villanelle. They would explore how the poem’s formal elements and thematic concerns resonate with different readers, and how personal experiences, cultural backgrounds, and literary knowledge shape interpretations. The villanelle’s open-ended nature and ambiguous refrains invite multiple readings and interpretations.
Psychoanalytic Criticism: Psychoanalytic critics might delve into the psychological depths of the villanelle, exploring the unconscious desires and anxieties that are expressed through the poem’s imagery and themes. The repetitive refrains could be interpreted as manifestations of repressed thoughts or unresolved conflicts. The villanelle’s cyclical structure might reflect the cyclical nature of human emotions and relationships.
