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Acrostic

Type:  

Structure, Other Requirement

 
Description: 

Like the Abecedarium, the Acrostic and its children are special requirement poems. In the case of the Acrostic, the special requirement is that the first letters of each line spell out a word or phrase or name. There are many variations on the acrostic, some of which have their own names and will be discussed below. One could have the key phrase hidden in successive positions down the lines, thereby creating a diagonal. One could use the initial letters of words in successive positions in each line. The possibilities are endless.

 
Schematic: 
L1xxx.
L2xxx.
L3xxx.
L4xxx.
L5xxx.
L6xxx.
L7xxx.

Where L1 through L7, and so forth, would represent the
successive letters of the keyword or key phrase.  xxx.
represents the rest of the letters of the first word of the
line and succeeding words.
 
Strengths: 

These can make great puzzle clues for a treasure hunt, road rally or similar type of game.

 
Weaknesses: 

If not executed well, the verse can sound tortured in trying to meet the acrostic requirement.

 
Starting Point: 

The keyword or key phrase has to be the starting point. What is the poet hiding in the text? How much does the poet wish to hide it? Does the word or phrase need multiple verses? Does it need some way of spacing between words?

 
See Also:  

Compound Acrostic, Double Acrostic, Telestich

 
Status: 

Complete

 

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