Layout and Text Features

The Way the Poem Looks on the Page

Layout:

Refers to the way the

text looks on the page.

Elements of layout include:

• Font type and size (bold, italics, underline, etc.)

• Indentation and alignment (left, center, right.)

• Space between verses or stanzas• Length of verses or stanzas.

Besides poetry, layout is used in art, design and architecture, or any other field that deals with the arranging items to create a certain visual effect.

Text Features

Are the elements in the text such as:

•Capitalization•Punctuation•Word Spacing

Poets—unlike other writers—are not always expected to follow the

rules of:•Capitalization•Spelling•Punctuation•Grammar•Word Spacing

While this does allow the poet to write in newer, fresher, more expressive ways…

It also demands more of the reader!

Therefore, you might have to read a poem two, three or even ten times before you understand it!

I think I finally got

it!