Quatrain

usgb/ˈkwɑːtreɪn/
noun

A stanza or verse of four lines, especially one having alternate rhymes.

This poem has five quatrains.
Visual representation of "quatrain" - A stanza or verse of four lines, especially one having alternate rhymes.

Often appears as...

  • rhyming quatrain
  • alternating quatrain

Usage tips

Poetic

Definition 1 of 1
Visual representation of "quatrain"
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Rhyme Scheme

Quatrains often follow a rhyme scheme such as ABAB where the first and third lines rhyme, and so do the second and fourth.

Illustration for Rhyme Scheme
In the quatrain, 'When I do count the clock that tells the time, / And see the brave day sunk in hideous night; / When I behold the violet past prime, / And sable curls all silvered o'er with white.'
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Rhythmic Patterns

Quatrains can have varied rhythms, typically following stressed and unstressed syllables.

Illustration for Rhythmic Patterns
The quatrain 'To dance upon the soft green grass' has a rhythm that you can tap to.
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Literary Context

Quatrains are used in many famous poetic forms, including sonnets and ballads.

Illustration for Literary Context
Shakespeare's sonnets are made of three quatrains followed by a couplet.
Visual representation of the word "Quatrain"

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