What is a Sestina? Definition and Examples for High School Poetry

📚 What is a Sestina?

A sestina is a complex, fixed verse poetic form invented by Arnaut Daniel, a troubadour of the 12th century. It consists of six stanzas of six lines each, followed by a three-line envoi. The end words of the first stanza are repeated in a specific pattern throughout the poem.

Quick Study Guide

• 📜 Form: Six stanzas, each with six lines, followed by a three-line envoi.
• 🔑 End Words: The end words of the first stanza are repeated as end words in the subsequent stanzas, following a set pattern.
• 🔄 Pattern: The standard pattern for the end words is 6-1-5-2-4-3 in each subsequent stanza.
• ✍️ Envoi: The three-line envoi includes all six end words, typically two per line, often embedded within the lines.
• 💡 Purpose: Sestinas often explore themes of obsession, repetition, and intricate thought.

Practice Quiz

1. What is the defining characteristic of a sestina?

   1. Repeating rhyme schemes in each stanza.
   2. Repeating end words in a specific pattern.
   3. A fixed number of syllables per line.
   4. Using only iambic pentameter.

2. How many lines are in each stanza of a sestina?

   1. Four
   2. Five
   3. Six
   4. Eight

3. What is the name of the short, three-line conclusion of a sestina?

   1. Couplet
   2. Tercet
   3. Envoi
   4. Quatrain

4. In what order are the end words repeated from stanza to stanza?

   1. Alphabetical
   2. Random
   3. 6-1-5-2-4-3
   4. 1-2-3-4-5-6

5. Who is credited with inventing the sestina?

   1. William Shakespeare
   2. Edgar Allan Poe
   3. Arnaut Daniel
   4. Geoffrey Chaucer

6. How many end words are used in a sestina?

   1. Four
   2. Five
   3. Six
   4. Seven

7. Where are all six end words typically found in the envoi?

   1. Scattered throughout the envoi.
   2. Two per line.
   3. Only in the first line.
   4. Only in the last line.