The Pantoum
The pantoum form originated in Malaysia and then migrated to France. It became popular in Europe in the 19th century. In Malaysia, it is called the pantun and is traditionally improvised.
Form
Each stanza is four lines long
The final line of the poem is the same as the first
The second and fourth lines of the first stanza become the first and third lines of the next stanza
The rhyme scheme for each stanza is abab
The poem can be any number of stanzas
The last stanza uses the unrepeated first and third lines of the first stanza
In the following example, the numbers represent the lines in each stanza.
The final line of the poem is the same as the first
The second and fourth lines of the first stanza become the first and third lines of the next stanza
The rhyme scheme for each stanza is abab
The poem can be any number of stanzas
The last stanza uses the unrepeated first and third lines of the first stanza
In the following example, the numbers represent the lines in each stanza.
In the following example, the numbers represent the lines in each stanza.
Stanza 1 Line 1 Line 2 Line 3 Line 4 Stanza 2 Line 2 (repeated second line from the first stanza) Line 5 (new line) Line 4 (repeated fourth line from the first stanza) Line 6 (new line) Stanza 3 Line 5 Line 7 Line 6 Line 8 Last Stanza Line 7 Line 3 Line 8 Line 1 You can have as many stanzas as you wish but the last stanza will always have lines from the first stanza in it. |
Here is a student sample
India by Veronica H. Vivacious India, so much to learn. India is where my heart lies. Dirty, smelly, yet so exciting, Busy street, carefree people. India is where my heart lies. Roaming cows in the street. Busy streets, carefree people. Children running around to meet their friends. Roaming cows in the street, The sound of honking cars and the smell of food. Children running around to meet their friends. Stores and carts at every corner. The sound of honking cars and the smell of food Dirty, smelly, yet so exciting. Stores and carts at every corner. Vivacious India, so much to learn. |
Click on the titles below to get a copy of the pantoum graphic oraganizer or pantoum rubric.