strofe

Strofe is a term used in several languages to denote a major division of a poem, consisting of a group of lines organized as a unit. In Dutch, strofe corresponds to the English "stanza"; in German the related term is "Strophe." The word ultimately derives from the Greek strophē, meaning a turn or reversal, a sense that reflects the Greek choral tradition where the chorus turned to face a different direction.

In poetry, a strophe serves to structure thought, mood, and rhythm. It is typically separated from the next unit by a blank line or other visible spacing. Strophes often share a meter and a rhyme scheme, though in modern poetry many works use free verse and varied forms. The length of strophes can range from two to several lines, and poets may use fixed-form sequences such as couplets (two lines), tercets (three lines), or quatrains (four lines) to achieve pattern and balance. Some forms also employ refrains—repeated lines or phrases—that recur at the end or beginning of successive strophes.

In literary analysis, the strophic structure is examined for how it governs pacing, emphasis, and meaning. Repetition across strophes, variation between them, and the points where a poem breaks into a new strophe are common focus areas.

See also: stanza, stanzaic form, verse, meter, rhyme, strophe.