What is a Stanza?
A stanza in poetry is a grouping of lines that are set apart from other lines by a line break.
The Architecture of Poetry: Understanding the Stanza
A stanza is the backbone of any poem.
It is a unit of verse - a building block, of sorts - that is typically set apart from other stanzas by a break in the text, such as a blank line or an indentation.
The number of lines in a stanza can vary widely from poem to poem, but typically a stanza contains four or more lines of poetry.
The length of each line in a stanza is also variable and can be used creatively to create the desired rhythm, sound, or emphasis in the poem.
The stanza is often used to break up a poem into distinct sections, each with its own self-contained ideas or images and its own unique impact on the reader.
Two examples of memorable stanzas in poetry.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.