Spenserian Stanza: Definition, Rhyme Scheme, Examples

INTRODUCTION:

Edmund Spenser, “the poet’s poet” has invented a new form of expression in English poetry which is known as Spenserian Stanza. Spenser used this new form successfully in his epic poem ‘The Faerie Queene’ (1590–96).

Hundreds of major poets of English poetry like John Keats, P. B. Shelley, Alfred Tennyson etc have imitated Spenser and have used this Spenserian Stanza in their poetry.

WHAT IS A SPENSERIAN STANZA?

Spenserian Stanza contains nine lines in total: eight lines in iambic pentameter followed by a single 'alexandrine' line in iambic hexameter. The rhyme scheme of these lines is ABAB BCBC C.

EXAMPLE OF SPENSERIAN STANZA:

Edmund Spenser devised the Spenserian stanza for his great work The Faerie Queene (1590). The following stanza consists of eight lines of iambic pentameter followed by a single alexandrine, a twelve-syllable iambic line.

“A gentle knight was pricking on the plaine,
Ycladd in mightie armes and silver shielde,
Wherein old dints of deepe woundes did remaine,
The cruell markes of many a bloody fielde;
Yet armes till that time did he never wield:
His angry steede did chide his foaming bitt,
As much disdayning to the curbe to yield:
Full jolly knight he seemed, and faire did sitt,
As one for knightly jousts and fierce encounters fitt.”

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