What is an ‘Anecdote’? According to www.Wikipedia.Org :

an Anecdote is a short and amusing or interesting account, which may depict a real incident or person. Anecdotes can be as brief as the setting and provocation of a bon mot (well-chosen word/s, particularly a witty remark). It is always presented as based in a real incident involving actual persons, whether famous or not, usually in an identifiable place. In Greek ‘anecdote’ means ‘unpublished’, literally ‘not given out’.

The Anecdote is much used in narrative form. The joke related by an after-dinner speaker to set the audience laughing is a form of anecdote. It may be embedded in a speech, an essay, or a biography, but it can be a unit in itself and stand alone as an interesting story.

The action in an anecdote is brief and the setting is presented with few details. The  emphasis is generally on a climatic remark, a brief conversation, or an unexpected action which reveals character. I think the main purpose of an anecdote is to entertain or arouse interest by giving an unusual happening, to give an intimate glimpse of a famous person, or to bring to light something typical of a race, region or country.

The qualities of a good anecdote are:

1. It is brief.

2. It includes only details absolutely necessary to the story.

3. It contains an element of suspense which reaches a climax near the end (often in the final line).

4. It follows a definite pattern. First, it gives the setting and the character/s. Second, it creates suspense by means of complication. Third, it interposes a sentence or two to increase the suspense. Fourth, it gives the point of the anecdote and then promptly stops.

OK, here’s an example of an anecdote in a narrative form:

It is said that when Queen Victoria was a little girl, she was sent on a visit to her grandmother. The little Victoria was very well-behaved, very quiet. She did everything her grandmother told her to do. Her grandmother was very pleased with Victoria. One day the grandmother told Victoria she could do anything she wished. The grandmother waited in anticipation. What would the little girl do? “You say I can do what I really want to do?” Victoria asked with a happy light in her eyes. “Yes,” her grandmother said kindly. “Then,” said the future queen of England, smiling happily, “I’d like to wash the dishes.”

Here’s another example in poetry form by yours truly:

 

News Item

She walks down the street – a woman-rushing-hour.

Her feet on hills, her legs on skirt.
Her nails well-polished, her lips a rose to fit
a well-drove iconic mascara;

And though her mind’s afloat with her curled mocha hair
she has (still) managed to look like a Venus’ heir,
but in ten and five a-minute all will be no-use.

When the light turns green she crosses the lane –
hurriedly.

Hurriedly.

The woman-rushing-hour shocks the busy road,

the chit-chatters,
the street sweeper, street vendors,
the dog peeing before a lamppost –

ah, poor pretty woman
she forgot to wear her eye balls on.

(Copyright © 2013, Kelvin S.M.. All Rights Reserved.)

Good morning / afternoon / evening friends & poets! Happy National Poetry Month & advance happy Earth Day! My name is Kelvin hosting once again for another series of Poetics Saturday and, yes, today we are writing an Anecdote in Poetry form. You can write anything real or unreal, perhaps a story you want to share, past events, people you admire, dangers you encountered, the spring, anything your poetic mind provides as long as it fits the topic re: Anecdotes. To formally start here how it works:

• Write your poem / s (using the given prompt) and post it to your blog.
• Click on the Mr. Linky button below and enter your name and URL and click enter.
• This is also where you will find the list of those that have also joined in—visit others, read, comment, meet new people—let people know what you think of their verse.
• Feel free to share your link and a link to dVerse using the social media of your choice.
• …and lastly, of course — smiles…