Basic Details
Word: Stanza
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A group of lines that form one section of a poem, like a paragraph in a story. Stanzas are usually separated by a gap.
Synonyms: verse
How to Spell Stanza
Syllables: stan - za
Tricky part: Both vowels are a, and the z comes right after the n. Students sometimes write stanzer or stansa.
Watch out for: stanzer, stansa, stenza
Memory tip: Its only vowel is a, used twice: st-A-nz-A. Picture the poem opening and closing each section with an a.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The poem has four stanzas of four lines each.
Example 2: For homework we had to learn the last stanza of the national song by heart.
Example 3: My favourite stanza is the one about the river reaching the sea.
Fun Fact
Stanza is an Italian word that also means a room or a stopping place, so each stanza is like one room of a poem.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Read the four words. Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. stanza 2. limerik 3. rythm 4. couplit
a) a funny poem of five lines
b) a regular pattern of beats or sounds
c) a group of lines forming one section of a poem
d) two lines of verse that go together
Show answer
c) a group of lines forming one section of a poem. Rhythm has a silent h after the r, couplet ends in let and limerick ends in ck.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word stanza as it is used in the sentence:
The second stanza of the poem describes the monsoon clouds rolling over the village.
a) heading
b) chapter
c) verse
d) footnote
Show answer
c) verse. A verse can mean a group of lines in a poem; a chapter belongs to a book, not a poem.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to complete the word:
st_nz_
a) a, a
b) o, a
c) a, e
d) e, a
Show answer
a) a, a. This word is spelt with a in both places.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A poem with three stanzas has three ____.
a) pages of notes
b) titles
c) authors
d) sections of lines
Show answer
d) sections of lines
2. Where would you most likely find a stanza?
a) in a recipe
b) in a poem
c) in a bank statement
d) in a bus ticket
Show answer
b) in a poem
