English Language Tanka

Many Fanstorians will be aware that I have been writing a daily tanka this year. Despite the opinions of some, that has not made me an expert on the form, and I am well aware that many posts have fallen short of what is desired. I know I have fallen into many of the pitfalls, and even extricated myself from some of them in the course of the last eight months. With over 300 tanka posted to date this year I will be able to illustrate some of the triumphs and tragedies of tanka writing.

Many people believe that the tanka is based on a five line poetry form with a linear syllable count of 5-7-5-7-7. They are also aware, at a variety of levels, that there are a complex set of rules as to what may, and may not, be included. Students' existing understanding of what these rules are will be considered, as will the reasons, if any, for these regulations.

Japanese technical terms in themselves are not important, though their meaning and importance to the form may be. We will be speaking English and concentrating on the meaning. I have a feeling that many shibboleths will be exposed, and I hope that we can end up with a set of guidelines that will be acceptable to all those who are involved with either writing or reviewing the form, or voting in contests that involve it.

Many of the rules or guidelines in the past have been based on what is allowed in the Japanese language. The relevance of this doctrine when writing in English will be challenged and discussed in depth, so that we emerge with a concensus of agreement on what needs to be retained in English, and what can be scrapped without detriment.

While it is hoped that much interesting oral discussion on 'Teamspeak3' will be generated, assignments will consist of writing our own tanka. These will then be reviewed in class in the light of previous discussions on the form, and may well give rise to new and interesting developments. For this reason I have raised the maximum class size to 10 for this class. This means that, were all seats to be taken, in the event of some classes bing missed by some people, a lively discussion could still take place. Classes will be on Tuesdays and Fridays lasting approximately one hour from 5.00 p.m. New York Time. Individual and catch-up sessions are possible by arrangement. The class will commence on Friday 21st September. The class may continue on a voluntary basis, at no extra charge, beyond the closure date of 12th October.

Week 1. Introduction to tanka form. Discussion of preconceptions. Initial guidelines
Week 2. Work on assignments produced, what is effective, what is not. Why are certain poetic devices (e.g end-rhyme) outlawed.
Week 3. What are 'important' words and what are not. How these can be eradicated from our writing.
Week 4. An overall syllable count format versus a linear count format. The Short-long-short-long-long format. Are these essential/desirable.

This class may be extended at no extra cost if students feel that would be advantageous.


Instructor: James Bartlett

About The Instructor: Jim Bartlett is an ex-Royal Marine Officer, and retired teacher, with a good honours degree in Education, and English and Drama, from London University. He has been a member of a local poetry group in South Wales where he currently lives alone in a redundant farm house.

Jim started writing while serving with 45 Commando, Royal Marines in Aden in the mid 1960s. At that time he was writing mainly song lyrics but later moved on to poetry after studying it on his degree course, which he undertook as a mature student between 1972 and 1976.

He has been published in poetry magazines and newspapers from time to time. In 2005 he produced a CD of self-penned songs under the title of "Tomorrow Never Comes", and published a poetry collection of thirty-six poems in 2012 entitled, "Triple Dozen" prior to joining FanStory in March 2015. His songs and poems have won several competitions.

Jim has also lectured on English Folk Lore and Song for the WEA in SE London in the late 1970s. He was urged to enrol as an instructor on FanStory by many who found his reviews of their poetry particularly helpful.