Haiku is traditionally described as consisting of how many syllables arranged in how many lines?

Haiku is traditionally described as consisting of how many syllables arranged in how many lines?

• A. 13 syllables
• B. 17 syllables
• C. 20 syllables
• D. 28 syllables

Answer: (B)

Haiku is defined by its brief, three-line form with a specific syllable rhythm: five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third. That adds up to seventeen syllables in total across three lines. In traditional descriptions this 5-7-5 pattern is the hallmark, even though English renditions can vary slightly in exact counts due to pronunciation differences. So the best answer reflects seventeen syllables arranged over three lines. The other numbers don’t fit this three-line, 5-7-5 structure.

Haiku is defined by its brief, three-line form with a specific syllable rhythm: five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third. That adds up to seventeen syllables in total across three lines. In traditional descriptions this 5-7-5 pattern is the hallmark, even though English renditions can vary slightly in exact counts due to pronunciation differences. So the best answer reflects seventeen syllables arranged over three lines. The other numbers don’t fit this three-line, 5-7-5 structure.