Syntax in Poems: Exploring Parataxis, Hypotaxis, and Inverted Syntax [Victoria Chang]

Intermediate | Why is syntax in poetry important? Because it’s one of the necessary defining principles of the poetic line and thus one of the most powerful ways to convey meaning and to emphasize or de-emphasize meanings and emotions. In this workshop, we’ll discuss syntax in general, as well as focus on a few elements of syntax in poems—parataxis, hypotaxis, and inverted syntax. We will go through some definitions, some grammar, and read a few poems together through the lens of syntax. We’ll also generate new poems based on what we’ve learned.