Rondelet

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The Rondelet (or roundelay) is a brief French form of poetry. It consists of one stanza, made up of seven lines. It contains a refrain, a strict rhyme scheme and a distinct meter pattern.

The word is from the diminutive of rondel, meaning round. This is the basic structure:

Line 1 :: A -- four syllables
Line 2 :: b -- eight syllables
Line 3 :: A -- repeat of line one
Line 4 :: a -- eight syllables
Line 5 :: b -- eight syllables
Line 6 :: b -- eight syllables
Line 7 :: A -- repeat of line one

The refrained lines should contain the same words, however - substitution or different use of punctuation on the lines has been common.

The term originates from late middle English: from Old French rondelet, from rondel. The change in ending was due to association with the final syllable of virelay.

[edit] See also

• Guillaume Rondelet