Hemistichum characteristics, types and examples

1758
Sherman Hoover
Hemistichum characteristics, types and examples

The hemistich It is a technique that is applied in poetry to divide a verse into two parts by means of a pause called caesura. It is used in verses of major art (with more than nine syllables). Seen in another way, this tool fragments the verse into two halves and gives it a space in the intonation.

As for the etymological origin of the word hemistich, it comes from the Greek word hëmistíchion which translates as half or division of the verse. However, the hemistich can cause a verse to separate into three or more parts and the two into which it is normally divided are not equal..

Hemistich, examples. Source: lifeder.com.

The resulting fragments have autonomy, although they are part of the same metric. The hemistich phenomenon represents division and caesura through a dash (-) or two parallel bars (//).

An example is shown in the following verse by Amado Nervo: “The meter of twelve // ​​are four donceles”. As can be seen, the phrase is made up of dodecasyllables (12 syllables) that are simultaneously divided into two hexasyllable hemistichs.

Article index

  • 1 Characteristics of the hemistich
    • 1.1 Separate the verses
    • 1.2 The use of the caesura
    • 1.3 Autonomy of the resulting fragments
    • 1.4 Law of final accent
  • 2 Types of hemistichs
    • 2.1 Isostich
    • 2.2 Heterostich
    • 2.3 Puristiquio
    • 2.4 Brachistichio
  • 3 Examples of hemistichs
    • 3.1 Cat on the roof
    • 3.2 Your coffee
    • 3.3 We will need
    • 3.4 Complement of nowhere
    • 3.5 Two forgetfulness
    • 3.6 Walk me through the dark
    • 3.7 We were one night
    • 3.8 Say "love"
  • 4 References

Characteristics of the hemistich

The hemistich is characterized by the following elements:

Separate the verses

As described at the beginning, the hemistich is used to divide a verse. This applies as a general rule to verses that have a wide meter, that is, to those that have more than nine syllables, known as major art.

On the other hand, the hemistich does not always divide the verse in two, there are cases in which it does so in three or more parts.

The use of the caesura

The hemistichs in the verses are separated or divided by a pause known as a caesura. Now, the number of spaces in a verse can vary according to the number of hemistichs. Therefore, a verse can have more than one caesura.

Autonomy of the resulting fragments

The hemistichs enjoy independence with respect to the others. This is because they do not always have the same number of syllables. Consequently, each of the parts into which the verse is divided can apply the law of the final accent to vary the meter and play with the rhythm. Within their autonomy is the fact that they do not admit the sinalefa.

Final accent law

Separate hemistichs have an accent on the penultimate syllable of the word that makes it up and at the same time enforce the law of the final accent. This means that if the word is sharp, a syllable is added to the verse; while if it is serious, it remains the same.

In the rare case that the word is classified as esdrújula, a syllable is subtracted from the verse.

Types of hemistichs

Hemistychia are classified as follows:

Isostich

This variety of hemistich is characterized by having two equal parts in terms of the number of syllables. For example:

“The princess is sad… // What will the princess have?

Sighs escape // from his strawberry mouth ... ".

These verses by Rubén Darío are separated into two heptasyllable hemistichs.

Heterostichian

In this classification enter the hemistichs that do not have the same number of syllables. Example: the following verses by the Spanish poet Manuel Machado are twelve syllables, but divided into two hemistichs of seven and five syllables:

"See, I know the pain // of your joy

and the prayer of bitterness // that is in your mouth ".

Puristiquio

In this case, the verses are separated into more than two hemistichs. The following verse proves it:

"... friend of keeping all right,

harsh and // rigorous justice;

big body and // chest relief,

skillful, // dexterous, // very strong, // light,

wise, // cunning, // shrewd, // determined ... ".

(Alonso de Ercilla).

Brachistichio

Refers to hemistichs in which a section of the verse is contained by pauses and has no more than five syllables in its meter. Example:

"Last night, // when I was sleeping,

I sounded, // blessed illusion! ... ".

(Antonio Machado).

Examples of hemistychia

Here is a series of examples of hemistich taken from the Aslyl collection of poems:

Cat on the roof

Missing her // is being a cat on the roof
// bathed in moonlight, // waiting to see pass // the birds of oblivion.

Your coffe

His coffee was strong // like oblivion,
I took him entrenched // on the edge of every word.
Crushing him // required two dense bodies // and a lot of night,
an animal for every hour // and a language devoted // to those so necessary:
// bad habits…

We will need

We will need, // the night knows it, // coffee too
// what are we together.

Complement out of nowhere

Being with her // I did not leave.
I was still just as lonely, // just as mine,
maybe // that's why we get along so well:
// we don't join together // to complement anything.

Two forgetfulness

We were two oblivions, // a pack of mud
in a pale land, // dwindling, // wounding the shadows with orphans;
// sinister, // yes, // salt eaters // at the doors,
a trace on the skin // that leads to the deep, // to the corners of not resting
// never.

Walk me through the dark

Walk me through the dark // with your waters,
where people do not tread // and the hawthorn is the tree that reigns.
Come over there, // for what I am when they don't look at me,
where my clay awaits // for your hands // to become animal // and man.
Walk the stretch that everyone hates, // that no one swallows, // and if at the end
You still want to see my eyes, // I will know that you have survived me, // and that we can walk calmly // holding hands.

We were one night

Walking together // it was a night, // wanting to hide
// to be alive.
Something far away, // like joy; // a cup of coffee // that looked inside
// and ended up drinking us // to wake up from the world.

Say "love"

Say "love" // build a house // that floats in the open.
It's a lot for the earth, // like a cross, // like the truths,
That's why it goes from truce to truce // on languages ​​// in the air.
Saying “love” // moves the stables, // neighing animals
// at the roots of the body.
It is more than the branch // without becoming a tree,
water that rains between two horizons // and nothing is flooded, // but the heart // of the one who misses.
When that peak // visited my mouth // and you touched // the mountain of leaves on my chest,
// I brought my lips to my hands.
Since then // it seems that I have forgotten how to raise the abode that we are
with a sound, // it seems, // but where I put the caress // the eyes go out, // something sings // and we see each other inside.

References

  1. (2020). Spain: Dictionary of the Spanish Language. Recovered from: dle.rae.es.
  2. (2019). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org.
  3. Pérez, J. and Gardey, A. (2018). Definition of hemistich. (N / A): Definition. From. Recovered from: definicion.de.
  4. Villoria, V. (2005). (N / A): Language and Literature. Org. Recovered from: lenguayliteratura.org.
  5. (S. f.). Cuba: EcuRed. Recovered from: ecured.cu.

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