Poetry: forms and features

Five types of poetry Lyric Narrative Dramatic Social Commentary Light Verse

Lyric poetry express the speaker’s deep personal feelings about a specific subject this is done in a using a form similar to that of a song an attempt to help readers view common experience differently is often made intense emotion is expressed May have patterns of rhythm and rhyme in this type of poetry

Types of Lyric poems idylls (pastoral) which are poems that idealize simple landscapes often rural settings haikus, odes, sonnets, elegies, hymns, most free verse poems, and song lyrics Haiku: a three line poem with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third. Ode: a formal poem often in praise of something or someone. Sonnet: 14 line poem. Elizabethan (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG) or Petrarchan (ABBAABBA EFGEFG) *variation often exists in the order of the rhyme scheme of the sestet Elegy: poem of mourning over the death of someone or lamenting the loss of/problems with love Hymns: respectful religious poem of worship that praises God or God’s works which is meant to be sung

Narrative poetry tells a story and is action and plot driven often focuses on subjects such as history, geography, or mythology Most common narrative poems are epics and ballads Epic: lengthy, written in an elevated, formal style and focuses on a heroic character(s) and a vast setting Ballad: alternating lines of iambic tetrameter and trimeter -abruptly begins, story is told through dialogue and action, uses simple language, mostly tragic themes, repetition of a refrain

Dramatic poetry meant to be read aloud or performed in front of an audience. places an emphasis on situation, characterization, and conflict Examples: dramatic monologues and Shakespeare’s plays

Social commentary poetry comments on society often criticizing social norms, customs, attitudes, or issues in order to change the status quo: bringing about much needed change in individuals and or society the speaker attempts to facilitate change by making a convincing argument supported by evidence and drawing a conclusion

Social commentary poetry For example: “Dulce et Decorum Est” is an anti-war poem that criticizes the belief that it is honourable to die for one’s country. Owen wants people to see that war enables unnecessary human suffering (Kirkland et al., 67). Social commentary using comedic elements is called satire.

Light Verse Poetry has the purpose of entertaining the audience through the use of humour In some cases, a serious purpose lies beneath the comedic form of presentation (social commentary)

Light Verse types Examples include limericks, parodies, epigrams, and satire. Satire uses sarcasm to ridicule the shortcomings of society (a person, idea or institution) to draw attention to its flaws

Light verse examples Limerick: a humorous five line poem in which the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme and have the same rhythm. The third and fourth lines rhyme with each other and have the same rhythm although they have fewer syllables than the other three lines. Epigram: A smooth and well written statement that is clever in thought, and in the form of a short poem. Epigrams are different from epigraphs which are quotations often placed before the start of a novel or a short story, or a saying inscribed on a statue or building. However, an epigram can be used as an epigraph.

Light verse: Parody Parody: imitates something in an exaggerated way to create humour or to mock the original or its author Can also be used to criticize as well as to make fun of something

Weird Al Yankovic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-0TEJMJOhk

Exceptions!! Not every poem neatly fits one category For example, A. E. Housman’s “Is My Team Ploughing” has elements of both the narrative (a ballad because of its four line rhyming stanzas) and dramatic form, so it cannot be only said to be a narrative or a dramatic poem (71)

Works cited Inside Poetry. “Chapter 4: How Poetry Works.” Kirkland, Glen and Davies, Richard. Harcourt, Toronto: 1987. Print.