Strophe

Strophe is a term used in poetry, drama, and music with several related meanings. The word comes from the Greek strophe, meaning “a turn” or “a twisting,” from strephō, “to turn.” In classical Greek literature, a strophe referred to one of the running movements of the chorus in an ode, typically followed by an antistrophe that counter-moved in the opposite direction; together with a concluding epode these sections formed the structure of the ode.

In the context of Greek drama and lyric poetry, the strophe denotes a distinct division of the chorus’s movement and verse. The antistrophe mirrors the strophe’s material and proportion, creating a dialogic or complementary pattern within the performance. In later literary usage, strophe is often used more loosely to refer to a stanza or a grouped set of lines in a poem or song.

In modern poetry and song, strophe can still indicate a formal division akin to a stanza. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with stanza, although in some traditions a stanza may have its own features independent of the notion of a turning chorus. The distinction is more common in discussions of older Greek forms than in everyday usage.

In music, strophic form (strophic, strophically) describes a setting in which the same melody is repeated for each stanza of the lyrics. This contrasts with through-composed form, where new music follows new text throughout. Strophic form is common in folk songs and hymns, as well as many traditional ballads.