What are the similarities and differences between haiku tanka and senryu?

Answer 1

Haiku

Must be 17 syllables long

must be written in present tense

pure snapshot of topic

must focus on nature

indirect/direct mention of seasons

A haiku is a 1000 year old Japanese poem. They are written about nature. They must be 17 syllables long and written in present tense.

Ex:

Spring

Birds can come home

The world wakes from its long sleep

Snow turns to rain

Answer 2

Haiku, tanka, and senryu are all forms of Japanese poetry, but they differ in structure and tone. Haiku typically consists of three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable pattern and often focuses on nature. Tanka has a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern and allows for more emotional or personal subject matter. Senryu also has a 5-7-5 syllable pattern but focuses on human nature and often includes humor or satire.

Answer 3

Sonnets are fourteen lines long, usually divided into an eight line octet and a six-line sestet (often with a change of subject or perspective between them called a volta), or alternatively into three four-line quatrains and a rhyming couplet.

Haiku are much shorter poems, often containing three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables (or when in Japanese, what passes for syllables in that language). Classic haiku do not develop an intellectual theme as sonnets tend to do, but rather provide a snapshot of an image, often from nature, which illustrates or gives rise to reflection on, a more abstract principle.

Answer 4

The subject of a senryu is usually based on human nature, while a haiku is based on nature. A senryu is most often satirical or ironic while haiku is more serious.