SPENSERIAN STANZA:
It is a form of stanza or the collection of verse which was the innovation of Edmund Spenser. It is a fixed verse form and this form was created by him for his epic poem Faerie Queen. This stanza form consists of nine lines of which eight are composed in Iambic Pentameter and the last and the longest line, the Iambic Hexameter is popularly also known as the Alexandrine. The rhyme scheme of these lines are a-b-a-b-b-c-b-c-c and these lines have a rhyme scheme which are recurring in nature, as,
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This form gained downfall and short of use in the 17th century but resurged with the Pilgrimage of Byron's Child Harold. Example of spenserian stanza are as under,
And more, to lulle him in his slumber soft,
A trickling streame from high rocke tumbling downe
And ever-drizling raine vpon the loft,
Mixt with a murmuring winde, much like the sowne
Of swarming Bees, did cast him in a swowne:
No other noyse, nor peoples troublous cryes,
As still are wont t’annoy the wallèd towne,
Might there be heard; but carelese Quiet lyes,
Wrapt in eternal silence farre from enemyes.
Spenserian stanza is usually co-related with the other form of stanza named Ottava Rima and moreover Ottava Rima is even regarded as the source of inspiration for the creation of the Spenserian Stanza. The obvious reason being, some trifling similarities between both these forms. But moreover these stanza forms are uphold considerate differences amidst them. But before going further the primary need is to understand more about the form Ottava Rima.
OTTAVA RIMA: It is the stanza form of Italian origin which was created by Giovanni Boccaccio. It is composed of eleven syllables of eight lines with a distinctive rhyme scheme of:
a-b-a-b-a-b-c-c. This form came to be popular in the mock heroic works whereas it was earlier used for the poems of long heroic themed poems. It consists of eight Iambic lines of which three are alternate and the one is double rhyme.
Comparison: Both these stanza forms have little bit similarities and various differences which not just makes them similar but at the same time identical.
Differences: The considerate difference amidst both these forms is, unlike Spenserian Stanza, Ottava Rima is the imitation of "Sicilian Strambotto" which means each stanza is complete within itself and doesn't require other stanza to complete its meaning. Spenserian and Ottava rima being the stanzas of nine and eight lines respectively, have also the distinguished rhyme scheme as compared to the Spenserian Stanza. Also Spenserian Stanza had its prominent use in English countries, whereas Ottava Rima is in Italy and it was quiet late when its use began by English poets.
Similarities: Both these forms have a recurring pattern which maintains continuity in them. MOreover the poetic pattern of these forms is slow and gradual. More or less, both these forms use Iambic meters in their poetic construction.
Conclusion: Thus the comparative study of both these forms clearly shows their identical significance as the forms of poetry and further clarifies the distance features and qualities that they individually posses proving their distinctive importance as the form of poetic composition.
