​In order to identify a villanelle, note the following characteristics of this unique and highly structured form of poetry:

• has nineteen lines
  is organized into five tercets (stanzas with three lines) and one quatrain (a stanza with four lines)

• has a regular rhyme scheme

• does not have a regular meter

​Characteristics of the Villanelle

The first and third lines of the first tercet are repeated throughout the poem. Specifically, the first and third lines repeat in an alternating pattern at the end of each tercet. These two lines also repeat at the end of the quatrain to serve as the conclusion of the poem.

​To analyze the impact of the villanelle form on meaning and style, consider the following questions:

• How do individual lines and stanzas impact the meaning?

• How does the regular rhyme scheme draw attention to messages or themes in the poem?

• How does the regular rhyme scheme impact the tone of the poem?

• Which lines are repeated?

​To analyze the impact of the villanelle form on meaning and style, consider the following questions:

• What is the meaning of these lines?

• How does repeating these lines emphasize messages in the poem?

• How does the repetition of these lines impact the tone and theme of the poem?

​Themes explored in Villanelles

• Obsession:

  The repetitive nature of the form is perfectly suited for exploring obsessive thoughts or haunting ideas. 

• Loss and longing:

  The repetition of refrains can powerfully convey the pain of loss, making it a popular theme for this poetic form. 

​Themes explored in Villanelles

• Passage of time:

  The cyclical structure can be used to reflect on the inevitability of aging and the relentless flow of time. 

• love:

  Villanelles have been used to express complex emotions related to love, as seen in early French versions. 

​Themes explored in Villanelles

• Existential reflection:

  The form is suitable for contemplating deeper philosophical questions about life and mortality. 

• Pastoral and rustic life:

  The form originated from Italian and Spanish dance-songs that often had simple themes of the countryside and rural life.