Are there any rules or specifications to writing an ode?

Question

I know it has to be in praise of something or someone, but i'm wondering if there's a designated rhyming scheme or something along those lines.

Answer 1

Here's a set of rules and an example that I found. That should get you started.

Answer 2

Writing An Ode

Answer 3

Ode Rhyme Scheme

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Are there any rules or specifications to writing an ode?
I know it has to be in praise of something or someone, but i'm wondering if there's a designated rhyming scheme or something along those lines.

Answer 5

Well, there are three types of Odes...two classical, and one modern. The two classical are:

Pindaric (from the poet Pindar), which consists of three stanzas, the strophe, antistrophe and epode. The first two stanzas should have the same rhyme scheme and meter, the third one should have "similar" rhyme scheme or meter, but can vary from the first two parts. All the strophe and antistrophe stanzas should follow the same rhyme and meter, and all your epodes should have the same rhyme and meter as all the other epodes.

Horatian (from the roman poet Horace), which is simpler because it is just a series of stanzas with the same rhyme scheme and meter.

The modern is the Irregular Odes, which are almost infinately variable, have some rhyme scheme associated with them.

Odes can be long or short, but they are normally longer rather than shorter. All odes are written as praise to "something" or "someone". Pindaric odes tend to praise something of public importance and Horatian odes tend to be more personal. However, either can really do either. Apostrophe is when you address an inanimate object as it were alive or human, as in "O urn of ebon inspired delight".

Whether you are writing a Pindaric, Horatian or Irregular ode, the rhyme scheme should be such that at least two lines in any stanza rhyme (half-rhyme or slant-rhyme). They can be abba, abab, abac, abcb, or aabb. The "epode" lines are normally shorter than the strophe or antistrophe (fewer beats).

The subject can be serious or playful, as in this one:

Ode To A Prawn

Sweet tender Prawn have ere you been
Deep in the bowl of soup tureen
Perhaps it’s I who’ll grant your wish
To fatally be my tasty dish

Your shell of green will go to red
As deep into the pot you’re fed
Until your movements have all stopped
And from its case your flesh is popped

And once released from shell’s confines
You may feel stabs from fork’s sharp tines
Or from our fingers down you’ll go
To waiting bellies far below

But not before I see you dressed
For I would not have you distressed
To go forth naked to the room
So I’ll apply a fruit’s perfume

With lemons yellow from the tree
Your flavor will I soon set free
And all around will soon delight
To see your face at meal tonight

And there you’ll be for all to see
With butter sauce and green parsley
And what a sweetened sight you’ll make
Before the first sharp bite we take

What joy you’ll bring to waiting lips
That lick your juice from finger tips
The smiles you bring you won’t believe
So don’t feel bad or start to grieve

Perhaps you will not share our bliss
And feeding time you’d rather miss
But how can swimming ere compare
To dancing with our dinnerware

So join your partners as they swim
In boiling waters deep and grim
So that tonight you’ll look your best
When you will be our dinner guest

K.M. Sorbello

Answer 6

Semper fill those glasses with Drambuie and then we can toast. Poet Princess Cynthia, the Floridian Flower, the Nurturing Nurse....I could go on but not as el-o-quent-ly as Monsieur Dondi - he of the late-teenage hormonal years (still). a pleasure to behold and a privilege to endorse....jolly good show ! We all luurve dat gal!

Answer 7

yes