In search of Poetic Rhythm: Poetry retrieval through text and metre

Abstract

In this paper a search service developed for the exploitation of a TEI-based Spanish poetry corpus is presented. Besides a textual retrieval, the search service takes advantage of the metrical annotation to retrieve verses and poems with specific rhythms. The Spanish Golden-Age corpus compiles 5078 sonnets written during the 16th and 17th centuries. All the verses have been annotated with metrical information following a semi-automatic process. The paper describes how this type of annotation can be exploited, by means of the search service, to study and understand Spanish Literature, and specifically on the metrical and textual aspects of Spanish Golden-Age Sonnets. The advanced search supports queries whose search terms can be a combination of metrical pattern, sonnet structure, poem title, author name or verse text. An evaluation of the search service, based on user experience analysis, shows that the tool is useful and helpful.