The elf is a form of the poem, which pupils mainly meet in elementary school. The elf consists of five verses and eleven words, from which the name of the elf is derived. Each verse has a different number of words and answers another question or reflects other content and aspects.
The elf can be used wonderfully to find an entry into creative writing and to deal with the written language for the first time. Therefore, the poem form is often used as a creative writing occasion.
This is beneficial in that there are very clear rules on the structure and design, on which one can orient oneself. Thus the structure and form of the poem can be quickly learned. The same is also true of haikus, rondelles and acrosticha.
Building the Elf
In order to illustrate the structure of an elf, we would like to show you the whole by means of an example. Afterwards, we will discuss the individual components of the elf and explain how the composition is composed in the poem.
language
Is moving
Lines create forms
We live the writing
word growth
The first verse of the elf gives a noun. This can be an object, a smell, a mood, a theme, or any other concept. In addition, the first verse is formed with only one word.
The second verse describes the word from the first verse somewhat more precisely. What makes this word, how is it, or is it not? The second line is created from two words.
In the third verse of the elf, the single word from the first line is examined again. Here we answer the question of where the word is or how the word is. This third line consists again of one word, already three words.
The fourth and longest verse of the elf is now about our own thoughts. What do we think about the word from the first line or what do we mean on the general topic? This fourth verse consists of four words.
The last verse, the fifth, certainly forms a summary of the elf, answering the question as to what can be the result of the previous questions. Here, we again restrict ourselves to a single word.
The elf is therefore composed of a verse, which is composed of five verses. Altogether these eleven words, the sequence of the word number up to the fourth line is ascending. The conclusion, that is, the last verse, breaks with it, since only one word is used.
Note: Apart from the rules described, there are no specifications for structure and structure. It is thus completely equal, whether the individual verses rhyme (→ Reimschema), how many syllables they have and also the Metrum (→ verse) does not matter in this case.