Which of the following best defines formal poetry in English literature?

Introduction / Context:
In English literature, poems can be broadly divided into formal poetry and free verse. Formal poetry is associated with regular patterns of metre and rhyme, while free verse allows more flexibility. Examinations in English often test whether you understand this basic distinction. The question asks you to pick the definition that most accurately describes formal poetry, focusing on its use of traditional patterns.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The term being defined is formal poetry.
• The options mention blank verse, traditional patterns, figurative language, lack of rhyme and performance.
• We assume standard literary definitions of form and structure.
• Formal poetry is contrasted with free verse, which is much looser in pattern.
• We are not limiting formal poetry to any one specific form such as sonnets or odes.

Concept / Approach:
Formal poetry is generally understood as verse that adheres to established patterns of metre, rhyme scheme and stanza structure. Examples include sonnets, villanelles, ballads and many other traditional forms. While formal poems may use figurative language, that feature alone does not make a poem formal, because free verse can also be rich in imagery. Likewise, blank verse is only one type of formal poetry: it is unrhymed iambic pentameter. Therefore, the best definition is the one that emphasises loyalty to traditional structural patterns rather than any single feature such as rhyme or figurative language.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the key idea of formal poetry: regular structure and adherence to established conventions.Step 2: Examine option B, which states that formal poetry sticks to traditional patterns of metre, rhyme scheme and stanza form. This matches the standard definition.Step 3: Consider option A. Blank verse is unrhymed iambic pentameter and is indeed formal, but not all formal poetry is blank verse, so this option is too narrow.Step 4: Consider option C. Figurative language can appear in any type of poetry, including free verse, so this feature does not uniquely define formal poetry.Step 5: Consider option D. Verse with no rhyme scheme and no regular structure is better described as free verse, not formal poetry.Step 6: Note that option E refers to performance rather than form and therefore does not describe the structural meaning of formal poetry.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify the correct definition by looking at examples from literature. Shakespeare's sonnets follow a strict pattern of fourteen lines, iambic pentameter and a fixed rhyme scheme. Traditional ballads and heroic couplets also display consistent metres and rhyme. These are classic examples of formal poetry. Literary handbooks describe such poetry as using fixed forms or formal structures. None of them define formal poetry as simply having figurative language or being written for performance. This confirms that the emphasis on traditional patterns is accurate.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option A restricts formal poetry to blank verse only, ignoring rhymed forms like sonnets and odes.
• Option C focuses on figurative language, which can appear in both formal poetry and free verse, so it is not a defining feature.
• Option D describes free verse or unstructured verse, which is the opposite of formal poetry.
• Option E confuses medium (performance versus reading) with form; a poem can be formal whether it is read silently or performed aloud.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes think that any poem with metaphor and imagery is formal, or that only rhymed poetry can be formal. Another common mistake is to equate formal poetry exclusively with blank verse. To avoid these errors, remember that formal poetry is defined by its adherence to established patterns of metre and structure, whether or not it uses rhyme and regardless of whether it is meant for performance or reading. Free verse may have powerful imagery and sound patterns but does not follow strict traditional forms.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is verse that follows certain traditional patterns of metre, rhyme scheme and stanza form, which best defines formal poetry.