1. Forms of Poetry Characteristics of forms of Poetry Whitehurst

2. Poem Characteristics  Purpose: The goal of the poem; the reason it was written  Subject & Theme: The topic and the message the poem communicates  Tone: The poet’s attitude toward the subject and/or the reader  Rhyme: The use of words that have the same ending vowel & consonant sounds  Rhythm: The arrangement of stressed & unstressed syllables in a line  Lines & Stanzas: The number & arrangement of lines & groups of lines to create an appearance on the page or to group thoughts

3. The Ballad  Definition: A specific type of narrative poem based on the ancient custom of telling stories in songs  Purpose: To tell a story  S & T: An adventure, romance, or a dramatic event  Tone: Serious & formal  Rhyme: May or may not rhyme  Rhythm: Varies, but use of repetition gives it a songlike quality  L & S: Usually has several lines and stanzas

4. The Concrete Poem  Definition: In a concrete poem, the words are arranged on the page to make a shape that suggests the topic of the poem.  Purpose: To connect ideas & appearance  S & T: Anything  Tone: Often playful or lighthearted  R & R: Doesn’t necessarily rhyme, usually doesn’t have regular rhythm  L & S: The arrangement of lines & groups of lines depends entirely on the shape the poet wishes to make.

5. The Elegy  Definition: A formal poem that reflects on death or another solemn theme.  Purpose: To memorialize a person or reflect on a serious subject  S & T: The death of a particular person or another serious subject such as war  Tone: Formal & serious  R & R: May or may not have end rhyme; may or may not have a regular rhythm  L & S : Varies, but usually on the long side

6. The Epic  Definition: a long narrative poem that often begins with an appeal to a muse & then begins in medias res - in the middle of the action.  Purpose: To tell an exciting or inspiring story  S & T: Hero of imposing stature & national or international importance  Tone: Serious & elevated  R & R: Usually doesn’t have end rhyme, may or may not have a regular rhythm  S & L: Usually has many lines & stanzas

7. The Haiku  Definition: Short poem that originated in Japan  Purpose: To reflect on nature  S & T: Anything, but usually nature  Tone: Serious  R & R: Does not rhyme, does not have regular rhythm  L & S: Each haiku has three lines. The first line is five syllables, the second line is seven syllables, & the third line goes back to five syllables.

8. Limerick  Definition: Short poem that originated in Japan  Purpose: To entertain  S & T: Anything, but usually a person  Tone: Humorous…often begins with, “Thee once was a …  R & R: aabba rhyme scheme, regular rhythm pattern, anapestic meter. The first, second, and fifth lines rhyme and the third and fourth lines rhyme.  L & S: One stanza made up of 5 lines

9. The Lyric  Definition: Expresses the thoughts & feelings of a single speaker, usually very musical  Purpose: To express personal thoughts & feelings about any subject  S & T: Anything, but stays focused on a single idea or image  Tone: Pleasant & harmonious  R & R: Varies  L & S: Varies

10. The Narrative  Definition: Has a plot, setting, conflict, & characters  Purpose: To tell a story  S & T: Varies  Tone: Usually formal & serious  R & R: Varies  S & L: Varies, but usually has several lines and is always organized in stanzas

11. The Ode  Definition: A single, unified strain of exalted verse with a single purpose & dealing with a single theme  Purpose : To celebrate a single object or idea  Subject & Theme: Any subject & theme  Tone: Elaborate & dignified, the ode glorifies & celebrates its subject with a formal tone  R & R: May or may not have end rhyme or regular rhythm  L & S: Number & length can vary; odes are usually long with varying line lengths

12. The Sonnet  Definition: A 14 line poem that follows a specified rhyme scheme.  Purpose: Varies, but often is praise  S & T: Varies, many are written about love  Tone: Usually formal & serious  Rhyme: Has a definite rhyme scheme; a Shakespearean (English) sonnet has an [abba, abba, cdcd,cd] or an [abab, cdcd, efef, gg] scheme  Rhythm: Iambic pentameter (an unstressed followed by a stressed beat)  L & S: All sonnets have 14 lines. Shakespearean sonnets have 4 stanzas: 3 quatrains followed by a couplet.