Heroic Couplets

[cacian]

do you have a favourite? and why?

what does heroic couplet means to you? and would it still apply in modern day writing?

[JBI]

Well, it doesn't exactly, given that it rarely was a popular form outside of the 18th century Still, it has a sort of elegance about it, with a lot of energy. After all, it is rhetorically beautiful, especially when properly matched..

[cacian]

Well, it doesn't exactly, given that it rarely was a popular form outside of the 18th century Still, it has a sort of elegance about it, with a lot of energy. After all, it is rhetorically beautiful, especially when properly matched..

it has a rhyming scheme. it is the origin of the word couplet that strikes me interesting. does not normally couplet mean two?
do you have a favourite?

[JBI]

I have no favorites, but the master is undoubtedly Pope. Still, the closing of every Shakespearean sonnet is very much a closed couplet, in terms of metrics and function.

[MorpheusSandman]

Pope is so quotable largely because of the aphoristic quality of the couplet. Pope also knew better than anyone how to manage sound to get the most out of his rhyming words by, eg, not including assonance or alliteration that "classed" with his rhyme words. On the other hand, I tend to find that their aphoristic, closing quality to be ill-suited to longer works, which makes it all the shame considering that's mostly what Pope focused on. Dryden was quite adept with them too, but not as polished as Pope. Favorites? One that immediately comes to mind is:

True ease in writing comes from art, not chance,
As those move easiest who have learned to dance.

[Mohammad Ahmad]

do you have a favourite? and why?

what does heroic couplet means to you? and would it still apply in modern day writing?

For me I would say (yes) because it has meaning and effect in soul, the modern poetry has not.
Moreover, the modern poetry is usually composed of disarranged words haven’t quite meaningful attire, no stress, no rhyme, no alliteration, lack of figurative of speech.
Always the objective question imposes on readers:
If the classic poetry has not advantages, why does it still predominate for now?

[Mohammad Ahmad]

do you have a favourite? and why?

what does heroic couplet means to you? and would it still apply in modern day writing?

It means for me the great literary work.
It means for me the creativity indeed.
It means for me the honourable poetry.
It means for me the excellence and the purity.
What does the quality of nowadays poetry?
No rhyme, no rhythmical sound, no meaning but it is just words over words.

[cacian]

do you have a favourite? and why?

what does heroic couplet means to you? and would it still apply in modern day writing?

For me I would say (yes) because it has meaning and effect in soul, the modern poetry has not.
Moreover, the modern poetry is usually composed of disarranged words haven’t quite meaningful attire, no stress, no rhyme, no alliteration, lack of figurative of speech.
Always the objective question imposes on readers:
If the classic poetry has not advantages, why does it still predominate for now?

well how does it predominate?

[cacian]

Pope is so quotable largely because of the aphoristic quality of the couplet. Pope also knew better than anyone how to manage sound to get the most out of his rhyming words by, eg, not including assonance or alliteration that "classed" with his rhyme words. On the other hand, I tend to find that their aphoristic, closing quality to be ill-suited to longer works, which makes it all the shame considering that's mostly what Pope focused on. Dryden was quite adept with them too, but not as polished as Pope. Favorites? One that immediately comes to mind is:

True ease in writing comes from art, not chance,
As those move easiest who have learned to dance.

that is an interesting couplets a one that makes me rethink the position of art with reference to writing.
writing is rudimentary art is sedimentary. I am not sure they compliment each other as much as talk to each other.
dancing is a technical move that requires a lot of practice and over the tops body movement that may or many not be good for the body.
ballroom dancing is extremely technical but a bit too stretchy for me. it looks uncomfortable and at times crazy to say the least depending which dance you are looking at.
moving however is studied but naturally instinctive. one moves because one needs to and one dances because one is being needed towards another need.
how do you feel about the couplets Morpheus?

[MorpheusSandman]

how do you feel about the couplets Morpheus?I... thought I already said how I feel about them. There's nothing better for aphorisms and sheer musicality, but I feel they're ill-suited for long works and narrative.

[cacian]

I... thought I already said how I feel about them. There's nothing better for aphorisms and sheer musicality, but I feel they're ill-suited for long works and narrative.

I meant about this couplets:

''True ease in writing comes from art, not chance,
As those move easiest who have learned to dance.''

and have you ever written any yourself?

[MorpheusSandman]

Oh, well, I like it because it eloquently dispels the notion that one becomes good via some magical, mystical inspirational process, as opposed to learning one's craft. The dance metaphor is especially apt as we've all seen our fair share of awful dancers that were a product of never learning how to dance.

Most of the couplets I've written have been those that close Shakespearean (in structure, I mean) sonnets. Here's an old example: http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?47901-A-Day-in-Life-%28Sonnet%29

[Mohammad Ahmad]

Still many readers especially in the Arabian area read the classic English poetry eagerly.