_Octavas reales_ are strophes of eight hendecasyllabic verses (_llanos_), of which the first six rhyme alternately and the last two form a _pareado_.
When _octavas_ of this form have eight-syllable verses or less, they are called _octavillas_.
There are four variants, but all must have the fourth and eighth verses _agudos_.
_First variant_: There is no _verso libre_, and the rhyme-scheme is a b b c a d d c.
_Second variant_: The first and fifth verses are _libres_ and the others rhyme 1 b b c 5 d d c. This form is the most used of all.
_Third variant_: All the verses are _libres_ except the fourth and eighth.
_Fourth variant_: The rhymes have some other arrangement than those mentioned in the three preceding cases.
_Décimas_ are strophes of ten octosyllabic verses with the rhyme-scheme a b b a a c c d d c.
Thus far all the compositions treated have been strophes, of which all the lines have the same number of syllables.
The most common strophes having an unequal number of syllables in the component verses are as follows:
_Endechas reales_ are _cuartetas_ in which three heptasyllables are followed by a hendecasyllable. The even verses are usually in assonance, although the verses may have the rhyme-scheme a b a b.
The _Lira_ is a strophe of five verses, of which the first, third, and fourth are heptasyllables, and the second and fifth are hendecasyllables. The rhyme-scheme is a b a b b.
_Seguidillas_ are strophes composed of seven verses, three of which are heptasyllables and four pentasyllables. The first, third, and sixth verses are _libres_, the second and fourth have the same assonance, and the fifth and seventh another distinct assonance.
_Silvas_ are series of strophes composed of hendecasyllables and heptasyllables of unequal number and unevenly distributed with a free arrangement of rhymes. Every verse should rhyme with another, yet sometimes a verse is left unrhymed in long compositions.
The _Sonnet_ is taken from the Italian and has the same general forms. It is written in hendecasyllables, and is always divided into four parts--two quatrains and two tercets.
_Versos sueltos_ (blank verse) are verses which do not assonate with the other contiguous verses, or with the nearest words in which the sense demands a pause.