Frivolous Rhyme

Abstract

Attempts to imitate the metric verse of classical antiquity in Polish literature involved the need to use an oxytonic accent in the clausula. A dispute broke out in the 18^th century in connection with that problem. Polemicists discussed possible ways of transferring to Polish poetry the structure of the standard elegy, as well as the function of masculine rhyme, which was linked to that particular genre. Masculine rhyme, perceived as frivolous and light, was felt by the Enlightenment poets and theorists to be unsuitable for emotional, melancholy lyric poetry.