WebRefrain A phrase or line repeated at intervals within a poem, especially at the end of a stanza. A poem's structure refers to how it is organized. When reading, pay attention to any repeating words or phrases. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Is there a building of momentum or drama with each refrain? Refrains can rhyme, although it is not necessary. Webri-frn-mnt noun refrain 2 of 2 noun 1 : a regularly recurring phrase or verse especially at the end of each stanza or division of a poem or song : chorus also : the musical setting of a refrain 2 : a comment or statement that is often repeated Synonyms Verb abjure abstain (from) forbear forgo forego keep (from) withhold (from) Noun burden chorus 2023. When the bombs fell on our harbour and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. An atypical example of refrain, Octavio Paz's "Wind, Water, Stone" repeats the same set of words as the refrain of each quatrain in the poem, but the words appear in different orders in each occurrence of the refrain. my Captain! Webrefrain, phrase, line, or group of lines repeated at intervals throughout a poem, generally at the end of the stanza. Villanelles are notoriously tricky to write because of their strict form and double refrain. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. [count] 1. : a phrase or verse that is repeated regularly in a poem or song : chorus. King uses this refrain for many reasons, but among the most important is that the repetition of "I have a dream" creates a rhythm that makes the statement begin to feel inevitable. In poetry, the chorus is called a refrain. In Ja Rule's "Always on Time," he brings in Ashanti to sing the refrain: Baby, I'm not always there when you call, but I'm always on time And I gave you my all, now baby, be mine. It likely got stuck there because of the chorus. Similar to a chorus of a song, the refrain is meant to catch the reader's ear and, perhaps more importantly, increase the poem's drama. What is a repeated phrase in the use of refrain called? Baldwin, Emma. Lose something every day. The Bells was written sometime in early 1848 and is a wonderful example of Poes most musical-sounding verse. Types of refrain that be used are repetends, burdens and choruses. A refrain is typically found at the end of a line in a stanza of a poem. This is particularly useful in poems or songs that move quickly and wildly between divergent images and ideas, as in Ginsberg's poem "Howl." What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, Emancipation from British Dependence Poem, Poems on Various Subjects Religious and Moral. A song refrain doesn't always have to make sensesometimes it can be essentially nonsense and still serve the purpose of pulling the audience in through catchy repetition. In poems, lines are written and divided based on the rhythm and syntax the reader is conveying. In a speech or other prose writing, a refrain can refer to any phrase that repeats a number of times within the text. Prior to the 17th century, the term "villanelle" was used to refer to a style of lyric verse that was similar to a ballad and did not have a fixed form. In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore; Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door, Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door. WebIn poetry, a refrain is a word, line or phrase that is repeated within the lines or stanzas of the poem itself. By using refrain, poets can make their ideas memorable, and draw the attention of the readers toward a certain idea. The first and third lines of the first tercet alternate as the last lines of the remaining tercets. The refrain is typically found at the end of The definition of a literary refrain in poetry is a line, phrase, or single word that is repeated periodically within the poem to build up drama or emphasis. One moose, two moose. The defining features of the villanelle are its stanzas, rhyme scheme and refrains, which follow these rules: It can be hard to grasp all of these rules without an example, so we've provided one: Jean Passerat's poem "Villanelle (I lost my turtledove)," the first fixed-form villanelle ever written. It appears in the first, third, fourth, and fifth stanzas. Every time an individual reads the refrain, it becomes more recognizable. ", Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speechperhaps the most famous speech of the twentieth centurytakes its title from its refrain, which repeats during the speech's climax, excerpted below: And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. Bryanna has received both her BA in English and MFA in Creative Writing. After watching this lesson, you should be able to: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Instant PDF downloads. Like Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman? It also contributes to the rhyme of a poem and emphasizes an idea through repetition. WebRefrain Definition. 2. : a comment or statement that is often repeated. It returns and disappears over and over. Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Look at my arm! This is known as the repetend. None of these will bring disaster. Eye Rhyme in Poetry | Overview & Examples. Suppose the lions all get up and go, And all the brooks and soldiers run away; Will Time say nothing but I told you so? It originated in France, where it is popular as, refraindre, which means to repeat. Refrain is a poetic device that repeats, at regular intervals, in different stanzas. Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay. Notice that this line, though, varies slightly in the final stanza, yet is still considered to be a refrain. Teachers and parents! See the refrain jump back, honey, jump back in Paul Lawrence Dunbars A Negro Love Song or return and return again in James Laughlins O Best of All Nights, Return and Return Again. Browse poems with a refrain. And ain't I a woman? Get a quick-reference PDF with concise definitions of all 136 Lit Terms we cover. WebRefrain is a verse, a line, a set, or a group of lines that appears at the end of stanza, or appears where a poem divides into different sections. "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas has multiple refrains present as well. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. The dusk grows vast; in a purple haze, While the West from a rapture of sunset rights, Faint stars their exquisite lamps upraise-- Midsummer nights! WebRefrain Definition. like disaster.". How to Use Refrain in Poetry: Poetry Refrain Guide Written by MasterClass Last updated: Sep 22, 2021 3 min read In various poetic forms, refrain can help an idea stick in your readers mind and give your poem a memorable rhythm. This theme continues throughout. It helps create emphasis, syntax, and rhythm. Thus, just as Outkast doesn't get love, listeners don't get the refrain of "Hey Ya.". The part of a refrain that is repeated and that is a single word is called the repetend. Send us feedback. The repetition of a phrase or multiple phrases in a poem or a song, usually sung by more than one person. Because a refrain can refer to virtually any kind of repetition in prose writing, it can overlap with other figures of speech that refer to very specific sorts of In poetry, the repetend is a single word repeated at regular intervals throughout the poem. There are three common types of refrain: the repetend where particular words are repeated throughout the poem; the chorus usually read by more than one person '_in unison_', and sometimes can be considered the theme of the poem; A writer will select a section of text that is of extra importance and use it more than once in a poem. Repetition, on the other hand, involves repetition of words, phrases, syllables, or even sounds in a full piece. This excerpt includes only the first three and the final stanzas of the poem If you want to read the full poem, you can find it here. In the 15th and 16th centuries, refrains branched out from lyric poetry and music; they began to be commonly found in non-lyric formal verse (poetry with a strict meter and rhyme scheme) and, to a lesser extent, in blank verse (poetry with a strict meter but no rhyme). Note that it varies slightly in the sixth stanza, 'the art of losing's not too hard to master,' but it still counts as the refrain. Then practice losing farther, losing faster:places, and names, and where it was you meantto travel. Then practice losing farther, losing faster: places, and names, and where it was you meant. Get this guide to Refrain as an easy-to-print PDF. A refrain can include rhymes, but it is not necessary. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs. In poetry, the refrain's purpose has a little more to it. Such a beauty was my dove, Other beauties will not do; I will go and find my love. However, each time this refrain is written, it takes on more meaning. Midsummer days! By the end of the paragraphonce "And ain't I a woman?" The shades of night were falling fastA banner with the strange device,Excelsior! WebFor poems that use refrains, it's common to write the rhyme scheme in lowercase letters and then to use an uppercase letter to indicate the refrain. The poem focuses on themes of death and the afterlife, and the chosen repetends emphasise the feeling of nothingness. O now when pleasures fade and fly, And Hope her southward flight is winging, Wouldst thou not be content to die? Middle English refreynen, from Anglo-French refreiner, refreindre, from Latin refrenare, from re- + frenum bridle more at frenum, Middle English refreyn, from Middle French refrain, alteration of Old French refrait melody, response, from past participle of refraindre to break up, moderate, from Vulgar Latin *refrangere, alteration of Latin refringere more at refract, 14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense, 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1, Pinsky, Rankine, Harjo, and others discuss the words they love. By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore. It's written in iambic tetrameter. The first refrain in Dylan Thomas's poem "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" is "do not go gentle into that good night." When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Note that, in this poem, it is repeated verbatim each time. A writer will select a section of text that is of extra importance and use it more than once in a poem. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. We saw this with Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven' (1845) and the use of 'nevermore' and 'nothing more' in the last line of stanzas one to eight, and stanzas nine to 19. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they, Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright. Learn the definition of a refrain in poetry and see examples. Get a quick-reference PDF with concise definitions of all 136 Lit Terms we cover. Personification in Poetry | Purpose & Examples, Politics and the English Language by George Orwell | Summary & Analysis. Some poetic forms require a refrain, like a villanelle or a sestina. In the clamor and the clangor of the bells! Barack Obamawho's own speechwriting is deeply influenced by that of Martin Luther King, Jr.frequently uses refrain in his speeches. The repeated lines Do not go gentle into that good night (line one) and Rage, rage against the dying of the light (line three) emphasise the narrators intense feelings for the subject of the poem to keep fighting to stay alive. In the last line of each stanza (except stanza two), the author uses the repetend nevermore. What is a refrain? At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Refrains can also organize the content of a speech, song, or poem by providing a memorable rhetorical framework. The second refrain (i.e., "And golden Autumn passes by?") Stopping By The Woods on a Snowy Evening Robert Frost. 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.. She has been a writing tutor for over six years. : Synopsis, Characters & Monologues, Jefferson Airplane: History, Members & Songs, Julie Andrews: Biography, Movies, Books & Awards, Leonard Bernstein: Biography, Compositions & Musicals, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community, Explain what the reader is supposed to take away from the refrain of a poem, Identify different elements of a good refrain and how to write one. Slim Lacon keeps a goat for thee, For thee the jocund shepherds wait; O Singer of Persephone! flashcard sets. Something it gives each day. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sightBlind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,Rage, rage against the dying of the light. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. WebIn such writing, a refrain refers simply to any phrase or sentence is regularly repeated. In The Raven (1845), the speaker tells a story of a raven visiting them while they are in despair after the loss of their love interest. The refrain is derived from the French word refraindre, which means to repeat. 'The art of losing isn't hard to master' opens the poem, and, therefore, begins the poem's idea. - Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture, the art of losing's not too hard to master, though it may look like (Write it!) It refers to lines of verse that contain five sets of two beats, the first of which is stressed and the second is unstressed. However, it is still considered a refrain in this instance. If I could tell you I would let you know. In literature, refrains are repeated sections of text in poetry. - Contact Us - Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions, Definition and Examples of Literary Terms, It is magical, yes, this life that I live. They can also change in meaning. However, sometimes, this repetition may involve only minor changes in its wording. Because a refrain can refer to virtually any kind of repetition in prose writing, it can overlap with other figures of speech that refer to very specific sorts of repetition, including epistrophe and anaphora. WebRefrain is a verse, a line, a set, or a group of lines that appears at the end of stanza, or appears where a poem divides into different sections. Weba short part of a song or poem that is repeated, especially between the verses (= the separate parts) Synonym. The first and third lines from the first stanza are alternatively repeated at the end of each stanza. Refrain is a repeated word, line or phrase you can find in a poem. If you'd like to write a poem with a refrain, keep in mind that a good refrain will sound catchy, doesn't have to rhyme, but will add purpose to your poem. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. [count] 1. : a phrase or verse that is repeated regularly in a poem or song : chorus. some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent. Create your account. Repetition Examples Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Wilde was therefore an important contributor to the form's rise to prominence. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'refrain.' She has an Associate's degree in Nursing from Middlesex College. For example, Keeping time, time, time and As he knells, knells, knells. Plus, there is the refrain, the repetition of bells that appears at the end of every stanza. Refrain in poetry refers to the use of a repeated word, line or phrase in a poem. If you trust your faithful dove, Trust my faith is just as true; I will go and find my love. chorus (SONG OR SONG PART) a phrase that is often The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? O midsummer nights! And still in boyish rivalry Young Daphnis challenges his mate; Dost thou remember Sicily? Think about the feelings that are evoked by the repetition and rhyming of 'rage, rage against the dying of the light', and 'do not go gentle into that good night'. "I'm with you in Rockland" is the famous refrain Ginsberg's groundbreaking poem "Howl," which was widely censored at the time of its publication for its vulgar language and explicit themes. WebRefrain: Villanelles have two refrains, or lines of verse that repeat throughout the poem. The song, which is characterized by its exuberant refrain, is deceptively upbeat and danceable, even though its subject is quintessentially depressing: Andr 3000 is singing about how he thinks that all love is a sham and he's unhappy in his relationship. Beneath this delicate rose-gray sky, While sunset bells are faintly ringing, Wouldst thou not be content to die? The first is the easiest to catch because it also happens to be the title--'Do not go gentle into that good night.' It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. The refrain is derived from the French word refraindre, which means to repeat. The repetition often occurs at the end of a stanza (a standardized grouping of lines) or strophe (a group of lines unrestricted by consistency). The distinction between the two is clear (now). There are a few poetic forms that always use refrains. Consider what ideas you want to express in your poem. It originated in France, where it is popular as, refraindre, which means to repeat. Refrain is a poetic device that repeats, at regular intervals, in different stanzas. With each refrain, the meaning should build up the poem so that, in spite of repeating a word or phrase, your refrain means more each time. Through the use of repetition, Poe is able to create the musical melody/rhythm that unites the four parts of the poem and mimics the sounds of the bells. Notice how Auden has slightly varied the second-to-last line of the poem, which in a typical villanelle would match the first line of the poem. In the stilly fields, in the stilly ways, All secret shadows and mystic lights, Late lovers murmur and linger and gaze-- Midsummer nights! It is magical, yes, this life that I live Each day it gives something. And thou, with many a tear and sigh, While life her wasted hands is wringing, Shalt pray in vain for leave to die When golden Autumn hath passed by. This makes it easy to spot the use of refrain with even just a glance! Hey ya! Stop procrastinating with our study reminders. Perhaps most important, though, the refrain makes the audience feel that they are a part of Obama's victory. There are no fortunes to be told, although, Because I love you more than I can say, If I could tell you I would let you know. Refrains might consist of a few words or several sentences, depending on the writers intentions. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 Refrains are found in the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead and are common in primitive tribal chants. Here are the first two stanzas of the poem: Water hollows stone, wind scatters water, stone stops the wind. Browse all terms All Rights Reserved. A stanza is a group of lines within a poem that makes up a verse. my last, or. The repeated in the use of refrain is called the 'repetend'. Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. While there is a slight variation the last time it is used, it still counts as a refrain. The refrain is a poetic device that uses the repetition of lines or phrases in a poem to emphasise a theme or idea. Learn a new word every day. The repetition of words or phrases between verses was a useful tool for helping writers and performers memorize the words of poems, and refrains also helped the listener to get a sense for the rhythm of the poem, since refrains are generally repeated at regular intervals. chorus (SONG OR SONG PART) a phrase that is often This literary device is similar to the chorus in a song, and it repeats at regular intervals throughout the poem. The part of a refrain that is repeated is called the repetend and refers to a single word that is repeated. Accessed 5 March 2023. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Even lines that are only repeated once in a poem may be called a refrain, as in the ending of this famous poem by Robert Frost. The following is a popular example of a poem that uses refrains. The line solidifies the fact that time passes differently for humankind and for natural features like the river. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Coming from an old French word refraindre, meaning to repeat, a poetic refrain is a word, group of words, line, or group of lines repeated at specific moments in the poem. It was many and many a year ago, In a kingdom by the sea, That a maiden there lived whom you may know. I will go and find my love. While refrain is a popular device in poetry, you are probably most familiar with its use in song lyrics. In the excerpt below, Obama repeatedly references Ann Nixon Cooper, a 106 year old black woman from Atlanta who couldn't vote when she was younger because of her gender and race: And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in Americathe heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can. WOULDST thou not be content to die When low-hung fruit is hardly clinging, And golden Autumn passes by? This emphasis on an idea highlights its importance and that it is a key point for the reader to remember. Although refrains can be used in any type of poetry, some fixed forms of poetry require the writer to include a refrain. Does the repetend that expresses the negatives of nevermore and nothing more show the lovers reflections on his situation? While refrain focuses on repeating phrases or words, repetition is broader than that. See the refrain jump back, honey, jump back in Paul Lawrence Dunbars A Negro Love Song or return and return again in James Laughlins O Best of All Nights, Return and Return Again. Browse poems with a refrain. appears in a few slightly altered forms throughout the poemsometimes phrased as a question, sometimes in the present tense, and sometimes in past tensethough in each variation it retains the same basic message (golden autumns pass by). The part of a refrain that is repeated is called the repetend and refers to a single word that is repeated. What do you notice about the refrain? In Edgar Allan Poes Annabel Lee (1849), in the second line of most of the stanzas, the author uses the burden In a kingdom by the sea. For example, the same line might end every stanza, or the writer might circle back around to a phrase multiple times. Its important to note that refrains must consist of the same words/phrases with as few changes as possible. The first refrain is: "Do not go gentle into that good night." The repetition of a single word. Its evident the art of losings not too hard to master though it may look like (Write it!) Webri-frn-mnt noun refrain 2 of 2 noun 1 : a regularly recurring phrase or verse especially at the end of each stanza or division of a poem or song : chorus also : the musical setting of a refrain 2 : a comment or statement that is often repeated Synonyms Verb abjure abstain (from) forbear forgo forego keep (from) withhold (from) Noun burden chorus To write your own refrain, think of the ideas you want to express in your poem. The refrain is typically found at the end of a line in a stanza of a poem. These refrains make the poem catchy and easy to remember. Here you mourn your mated love; Oh, GodI am mourning too: I have lost my turtledove. Though it is repeated exactly throughout, does the meaning change or alter slightly after each refrain? There is also a repetition of an "eep" sound. WebIn such writing, a refrain refers simply to any phrase or sentence is regularly repeated. 30 chapters | Over 10 million students from across the world are already learning smarter. Repetition may mean repeating syllables or sounds as well. WebBritannica Dictionary definition of REFRAIN. The art of losing isnt hard to master. Repetition can occur in anything from prose and fiction to an ordinary conversation or a comedy sketch. Villanelle, on the contrary, is a poetic form consisting of nineteen lines that uses refrain in its first and third lines. It is written in the first, second, fourth, and sixth stanzas. The poet is using refraining line In a kingdom by the sea. This appears in the second line of each stanza, and recurs in the final line of the third stanza, drawing readers attention, and contributing to its meter and rhythm. Then practice losing farther, losing faster: places, and names, and where it was you meant to travel. See the repetition of the words captain, rise up, and for you in just these two lines. The idea becomes more comfortable to the reader, and they pay closer attention to what is being repeated. Death, again entreated of, Take one who is offered you: I have lost my turtledove; I will go and find my love. The use of the word bells so many times is an obvious way of suggesting their constant ringing. This line is repeated by the author in the first, second, fourth, and sixth stanzas. The refrain typically appears at the end of the stanza or as its own stanza in between others, though this is not always the case. Refrain is a type of repetition, but it is somewhat different from repetition. Derived from a French word meaning to repeat, the refrain in a poem is a word, group of words, line or group of lines that is repeated in specific intervals. This is done by using a single line recurrently throughout a poetic work, allowing readers to take a pause each time they come upon such repetition. They might, for instance, modify the one or both of the refrains in the quatrain, or otherwise vary how they use the refrains.