Poetic Terms Dictionary
Structure

Envoi

From French envoyer: to send. A medieval French convention; adopted in English by Chaucer and revived by Swinburne and other Victorian poets.

Definition

A short concluding stanza that closes certain fixed forms (ballade, sestina), summarising or dedicating the poem.

Example

The envoi of a ballade addresses a 'Prince' or patron; the sestina's envoi (tercet) uses all six key words.

Related Terms

Sestina Ballade Coda Refrain