Literary Terms

Free Verse: Definition and Examples

Published April 15, 2024 · 3 views

Free Verse is an important term in literary studies. This page gives a clear definition, an example and tips on how to use it in essays.

Definition

Poetry without regular rhyme or metre.

Example

Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass

How to Write About Free Verse

  • Identify where free verse appears in the text.
  • Quote the exact words.
  • Explain the effect on the reader and link it to the writer's purpose.

See also: Literary Devices: Metaphor, Simile, Irony and More.