A two-line is a poem that consists of two lines of verse or a very brief communication in authorities to speed up internal processes. This does not have to consist of two lines; rather, it is about keeping as short a time as possible and by dispensing with decorations. In lyric, there is the distich, which consists of hexameter and pentameter.
If, however, no distichon is present, the term is general. This means that each pair can be described as a two-line, so there are no fixed rules for meter and rhyme. Only the length is logically given: two lines and no more. Let us look at an example.
If one no longer knows,
found a working group.
The above example is a two-line version of the Volksmund, which expresses institutionalized perplexity. It can be seen that the example consists only of two lines of verse. In this case, they rhyme and follow the pattern of the pair rhyme as two successive lines rhyme.
However, another feature which has many two-line features: the great power of expression in a confined space. Although it is by definition not necessary that essential contents are transported in such a pair, very often aphorisms, punchlines or even bonmots are two-lineers.
Examples of the two-line
Since the two-line offers to transport pointers, jokes and truths, many such phrases have become established in the language. Some are colloquial, others are of a rather nature. Below is a small selection of everyday life and literature.
Hardly a full bag,
heavier an empty one.
Johann Christoph Friedrich Haug, 1761-1829
Nothing is more straightforward, more proud, bold
as little gentlemen little servants.
Karl Julius Weber, 1767-1832
In paradise itself, one would probably meet one,
which one can not stand.
Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, 1825-1898
Tired and full,
how beautiful is datt!
Friesian saying
Who does not know more,
which forms a working circle.
Political meaning
Unbelievers praise the truth,
is called blind beautiful wenches.
Andreas Gryphius, 1616-1664)
Picture, artist, do not speak
just a breath is your poem.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
Should one hear a gate,
and not beat him around the ears?
Johann Fischart, 1546-1591
Love, what lovely haze;
but in marriage, there is art.
Theodor Storm, 1817-1888
Here are my bones.
I wish they were yours.
grave inscription
What do you praise your fast ride!
The horse went through and took you with you.
Emanuel Geibel, 1815-1884
Dreams are not deeds;
without work you will not be guilty.
Ernst Moritz Arndt, 1769-1860
The one has the trouble,
the other scoops out the broth.
Author unknown
Often the world calls in vain deception
the wise, the foolish.
Saadi, c. 1190-1283
In misery the Alchemist dies,
the fool finds gold in the mists.
Saadi, c. 1190-1283
So salute every dwarf on earth,
he could be your director.
Author unknown
Misery is forgotten,
there’s only something to eat.
Miguel de Cervantes, 1547-1616
Dear cook, dear cook
here your art falls into the hole.
latrinalia
He calls it reason and needs it alone
Only be more animal than any animal.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
But, If and Gar,
are the devil’s war ‘.
Conventional wisdom
The eagle flies alone; the raven.
Society needs the gate, and solitude of the way.
Friedrich Rückert, 1788-1866
A powerful man, speaking with the weak,
demands only applause, not truth.
Karl Wilhelm Ramler, 1725-1798
He who fled may still be victorious,
a dead man will remain forever.
Samuel Butler, 1612-1680
Whoever plays with life never gets along;
He who does not command himself is always a slave.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
Whoever adheres to others, the world waits.
He who rests upon himself is good.
Paul Heyse, 1830-1914
The wisdom first step is to accuse everything.
The last: to deal with everything.
Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, 1742-1799
Words and deeds-that is so,
are sometimes different.
Kurt Tucholsky, 1890-1935
If you doubt the heart,
the soul’s peace is denied.
Wolfram of Eschenbach
He can bring it far in the world,
who does not ask if he likes it.
Johann Gottfried Kinkel, 1815-1882
Friends and anchors,
when they did help in need.
Abraham a Sancta Clara, 1644-1709
Misery is the fault
– what remains, bear patience.
Theodor Storm, 1817-1888
To make it right everyone
is an art that no one can.
saying
Like foliage are words; where it is particularly dense,
it is mostly devoid of fruit or meaning.
Alexander Pope, 1688-1740
Nothing is harder to bear
as a series of good days.
saying
On earth, no human child lives,
in which there is no want.
saying
Avarice is not satisfied,
until he has a mouthful of earth.
saying
Short overview: The most important thing about the two-line system at a glance
Basically, a two-line is a poem consisting of two verses. These, however, are not subject to any rules and therefore do not have to rhyme or follow a certain metrum. Such a pair is thus formless.
A particular form of the two-line is the distichon, which is formed from a hexameter and a pentameter. Typically this form is for the epigram and the elegy.
Two-line verses are often pointed statements, such as the aphorism, the pointe, or the bonmot. There are no fixed rules. Often the meaningfulness is increased by the use of antitheses and parallelisms.
