Odes

Ode Comes from Greek term meaning to sing/chant Type of lyric poetry – originally accompanied by music Romantic poets used it to convey their strongest sentiments

Ode Formal structure Serious purpose and tone Follow consistent metrical scheme (except irregular odes) Serious purpose and tone Not about humor or frivolity In celebration or praise of something or someone Address that person or thing Types: Pindaric, Horatian, Irregular

Pindaric Odes Named for Greek poet Pindar Performed with a chorus and dancers Often created to celebrate athletic victories (Olympics) Traditionally: 3-stanza structure throughout: strophe-antistrophe-epode Strophe and antistrophe (1st & 2nd) follow same metrical and rhyming patterns Epode (3rd) features different metrical and rhyming structure

Horatian Odes Named for Roman poet Horace More tranquil and contemplative Less formal, less ceremonious – quieter and less theatrical Regular, recurring stanza pattern Traditionally: Philosophical, contemplate simple pleasures Usually quatrains with consistent rhyme scheme and metrical pattern

Irregular (English Romantic) Odes Modifies Horatian and Pindaric forms Combines stanza irregularity with meditation Addressed intense emotions, personal crisis, and revelation Outline revolves around subject development Describe natural scene and meditate Consider how scene reminds them of a problem or universal situation Meditation  insight Return to original scene with new perspective

Elegies Response to death of someone Traditionally: 1) Speaker expresses sorrow and grief (lament) 2) Praise and admiration for the dead 3) Consolation and solace Also traditionally written in elegaic stanzas Often lines of iambic pentameter with ABAB rhyme scheme