Which statement about haiku describes its formal characteristics?

Which statement about haiku describes its formal characteristics?

• A. It has four lines
• B. It has three lines with a 5/7/5 syllable pattern
• C. It has five lines
• D. It is not syllabic

Answer: (B)

Haiku is defined by its compact three-line shape and a specific syllable pattern. In traditional haiku, the poem is arranged in three lines totaling 17 syllables, commonly described in English practice as 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, and 5 in the third. This three-line, short-long-short structure is the hallmark of the form and helps create a precise, momentary image often tied to nature and a seasonal reference. That’s why describing it as three lines with a 5/7/5 syllable pattern is the best answer. The other options describe different forms or ignore the characteristic syllabic constraint, which is essential to haiku’s formal style.

Haiku is defined by its compact three-line shape and a specific syllable pattern. In traditional haiku, the poem is arranged in three lines totaling 17 syllables, commonly described in English practice as 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, and 5 in the third. This three-line, short-long-short structure is the hallmark of the form and helps create a precise, momentary image often tied to nature and a seasonal reference. That’s why describing it as three lines with a 5/7/5 syllable pattern is the best answer. The other options describe different forms or ignore the characteristic syllabic constraint, which is essential to haiku’s formal style.