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Roundel

Technique
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A fixed form deriving from the French rondeau, comprising 11 lines with two refrains and a strict rhyme scheme, often lyrical and playful.

Detailed Definition
The roundel, adapted by Algernon Charles Swinburne from the rondel, consists of eleven lines with two refrains and a rhyme scheme of ABAa BAB ABaA. Its circular structure and echoing lines create a hypnotic, musical effect, ideal for meditative or lyrical themes in Victorian and neo-medievalist verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
Algernon Charles Swinburne’s “The Roundel” follows the form: 11 lines, refrain from line 1 repeated as line 11; A roundel example: “A rose bloomed bright in morning’s hold (refrain) / Its petals soft as whispered gold... / A rose bloomed bright in morning’s hold”; The rhyme scheme is ABAa BAB ABAa (with lowercase indicating refrain); Another: “The sea sings low, a mournful sound... / The sea sings low, a mournful sound”; Roundels feature a repeating first phrase as both line 4 and line 11.
Additional Notes
The roundel is an 11-line French-derived form created by Algernon Charles Swinburne, featuring a refrain (first phrase repeated as lines 4 and 11) and rhyme scheme ABAa BAB ABAa (lowercase = refrain); similar to the rondeau but shorter; ideal for lyrical, circular themes like memory or obsession; students should ensure the refrain gains new meaning with each recurrence; musicality is key—read aloud to test flow; useful for practicing economy and echo effects within tight structure.
Also Known As
Swinburnian Roundel
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