Formalism (poetry)

In modern poetry, Formalist poets may be considered as the opposite of writers of free verse. These are only labels, and rarely sum up matters satisfactorily. 'Formalism' in poetry represents an attachment to poetry that recognises and uses schemes of rhyme and meter to create poetic effects and to innovate. To distinguish it from archaic poetry the term 'neo-formalist' or 'new formalist' is sometimes used.