Literature

    Since the invention of the printing press, literature has been a common way of expressing ideas.  It has evolved into more than just a way of communication, it has turned into an art form, a way of expressing emotion.  Creativity has a way of expressing itself in many ways.   

    Forms of literature have structure.  Anyone who has written knows that formal writing has a very defined structure.  Whole books are dedicated to the rules and regulations of the written English language.  A research paper, for example, must have specific elements, with references named exactly.  We were taught how to do this better in Technical Writing.  Other kinds of writing have their structure defined.  I will look at the more artistic forms of writing, such as poetry.  

    Poetry can take many forms.  Early on in life, children are usually exposed to the fun poetry of Shel Silverstein, whose creative thoughts identify well with them.  Later we explore other poets.  Poetry has always held a place in most people's hearts.  It can be a way of expressing love, anger, political ideas, and can cover almost any subject.  Some of this poetry can be just as structured as the dreaded research paper.

    Take first the example of a Limerick.  This deceptively simple  little rhyme has a set form.  Take this one:

There was a young bard of Japan
Whose limericks never would scan;
   When they said it was so,
   He replied: `Yes, I know,
But I make a rule of always trying to get just as many words into the last line as I possibly can." 

The rules are simple.  the pattern goes AABBA.  There are no syllable rules.  The riddles I wrote were all limericks.  They can be fun.  What happens is that the rule makes you think harder about what you really want to say, and when you are done you have a fun sounding rhyme. The rule forces you to be more creative with your word selection and phrases.  This is definitely a case where restrictions can make one more creative. 

   Other poetry that has similar structure rules is from the great Alexander Pope.  Most of his writings are written in verse, and usually rhymed.  Some take on a specific form like this verse:

How happy he, who free from care
The rage of courts, and noise of towns;
Contented breaths his native air,
         In his own grounds.

The other verses in "Solitude: An Ode" have the same rhyming and syllable structure.  Again, with these restrictions you must carefully choose the words to make the verse which creativity plays a large hand. 

   We also see similar things happening in the theater.  Playwrights usually wrote in verse, rather than free.  Moliere was a famous French playwright.  He had a great humor in many of his plays. These show rhyme structure as well.  In "Tartuffe," we see a scheming priest pretending to be pious. Take this hilarious excerpt from Act III Scene 2:

TARTUFFE    Cover that bosom, girl, the flesh is weak,
         And unclean thoughts are difficult to control.
         Such sights as that can undermine the soul.
DORINE        Your soul, it seems, has very poor defenses,
         And flesh makes quite an impact on your senses.
         It's strange that you're so easily excited;
         My own desires are not so soon ignited.
         And if I saw you naked as a beast,
         Not all your hide would tempt me in the least.

    Classic!  Probably the most famous playwright of all, Shakespeare, wrote in what is called blank verse, or Iambic Pentameter.  His scenes often end with a rhyme.  I find it difficult enough to write like this without having to write in verse.  If we take a look at all the additions that Shakespeare added to the English language, we can tell that he was a very creative man.  I believe this creativity was inspired in some part by the form that he wrote in. 

   Looking at all these things, I feel that there is a strong case for rules and constraints fostering creativity in writing.