Knittelvers

[Tinker]

Explore the Craft of Writing
German Verse

Knittelvers means cudgel verse. Considered simple, sometimes awkward and often satirical, comical or vulgar, Knittelvers are a 15^thcentury German stanzaic form which by the 17^th century had become indicative of derogatory statements. Written in crude couplets the genre / form was rejected as clumsy by most reputed poets. But by the 18^th century they were revived by such noted poets as Goethe, Schiller and Gottsched. Knittelvers continue to be effective in political satire and parodies.

The elements of Knittelvers are:

1. stanzaic, written in any number of couplets.
2. rhymed. The rhyme can be true or assonant rhyme. aa bb cc dd etc.
3. syllabic, originally the lines were long but narrowed down to either strict count of 8 syllable lines or free count of 8 or 9 syllable lines each. But by the 18^th century two prominent variations emerged:
   • a rhymed couplet of alternating an 8 syllable masculine ending line followed by a 9 syllable feminine ending line.
   • or alternating rhymed couplets of 8 syllable masculine ending lines followed by a couplet of 9 syllable feminine ending lines.
4. accentual, each line carries 4 stressed syllables.

   How Many Times? by Judi Van Gorder
   He said "sorry, it's me not you.
   I strayed and found somebody new."
   She knew before he spoke his confession
   he'd played long before this transgression.

German and Austrian Poetic Forms:

• Bar Form
• Dinggedicht
• Golliardic Verse
• Knittelvers
• Minnesang
• Nibelungen
• Shuttelreim