does a Monody poem need to rhyme?

Answer 1

Need? No. There are numerous devices used to define a poem. Some are hard and fast rules, others are maleable.

Take the sonnet for instance. Traditionally, the sonnet consists of fourteen lines in iambic pentameter with an octet defining a problem and a sestet defining a resolution, typically carrying a rhyme scheme of abba or abab for the octet and cdecde or cdccdc for the sestet. (Who makes up all these rules?)

However, the hard and fast rules of the sonnet in modern writing are 14 lines carrying an equal meter. And while many purists and classicists may argue, it comes down to personal taste both of the writer and the audience.

I tend to follow a guideline of breaking only one rule. In the case of sonnets (which I frequently write), I break the rhyme scheme, since I find rhyme (at least end rhyme) too restrictive and often bubbly. Once in a while, I'll go really nuts and break two rules (Oh, you rebel!), the second typically the meter rule, moving away from pentameter into something of a septameter (though I will keep it iambic in these cases).

Poetry has breathing room... and as one of the most written, but least read mediums of writing, it needs to breathe and evolve in order to stay relevent.

As for monody, traditional Greek monody had a rhyme scheme, is lyrical, and laments the death of another. While I have never written a monody myself, a comparison of other monodies I have read would suggest that it need only be a lyrical lament. Everything else is maleable.

In the end, its up to the author and the reader to decide whether that definition applies. Personally, while structure helps me hone my poetic work, when reading another, I look for impact of meaning, voice, tension, etc., rather than harping on the details. I only look at those when they seem to detract (such as some poets' overuse of alliteration) from the flow and meaning of a piece.

Answer 2

Not necessarily, although since it's a lament it will help. Lycidas and L'allergo by Milton though long winded are good examples.