Rain: Form and Structure

“Rain: Form and Structure” - Overview

• The poem “Rain” presents itself in a traditional sonnet form, maintaining the standard of 14 lines conventionally observed in sonnet structures.

Structure Discussion

• Paterson doesn’t strictly adhere to the traditional sonnet format in terms of rhyme scheme or meter, creating a freedom of expression that echoes the mood and subject of the poem.

• Use of the volta, or turn, a common feature in sonnets, presents itself in the final two lines of the poem. This leads to a shift in tone and brings a new perspective or revelation to the theme being explored.

Form Analysis

• The length and structure of the poem mirror the constant and ongoing nature of rain — a theme central to the poem.

• The discussion around the eternal and continual ‘falling’ motion of rain is paralleled in the form of the sonnet itself — short, constant, and with a final moment of epiphany or resolution.

Examination of Closure

• The final couplet serves to encapsulate the poem’s central themes of rebirth and renewal, wrapping up the contemplations of the speaker up until that point.

• The closure of the poem leaves the reader with a final thought or question, allowing them to ponder upon the transient yet eternal nature of elements like time, life and in this case, rain.

When looking into “Rain: Form and Structure”, the main focal points should be the balance Paterson makes between traditional form and modern exploration and how this interplay successfully manages to set the tone for and highlight the themes and messages within the poem. The key is in understanding that the choice of a sonnet form isn’t arbitrary, but purposeful and deeply intertwined with the poem’s content.