1. Types of Poetry A Closer Look at Several Examples of Forms Narrative Dramatic Lyric Sonnet

2. Narrative A poem that tells a story An example that you may remember: Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” A new example: Mai Neng Moua’s “D.C.”

3. Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. Vietnam War 1959 to 1975 War to unite Vietnam under Communism Hmong were allies recruited by the United States who fought against the enemy with us

4. D.C. Mai Neng Moua I stood my ground It’s not enough that I am here I want the imprints of their names Some American proof that they were known Their courage recognized The sacrifices of their lives acknowledged The ranger in khaki shorts and Smokey-the-Bear hat said “You have to know someone who died there” I stood my ground Letting the emotions clog my throat, sting my eyes What had I expected him to say “Your father Tooj Cib Muas is right over here?” My mute tongue could not scream “But I do know someone who died there” I know six who died there (…) Men who are supposed to be— But are not— Here taking care of me Showing my little brother how to be a man

5. The white man had moved on To other people—tourists gathered Around the memorial as if It was an exotic exhibit Talking loudly, laughing, downing Their Evian in the humid heat Disturbing the memories of chaos Just another thing you do while you’re in D.C. I stood my ground

6. Dramatic Poetry Utilizes techniques of drama, often a monologue Many examples in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (Below is Mercutio’s dramatic monologue ) RomeoI dream’d a dream to-night. MercutioAnd so did I. RomeoWell, what was yours? MercutioThat dreamers often lie. RomeoIn bed asleep, while they do dream things true. MercutioO, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you. She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes In shape no bigger than an agate-stone On the fore-finger of an alderman, Drawn with a team of little atomies Athwart men’s noses as they lie asleep; Her wagon-spokes made of long spiders’ legs, The cover of the wings of grasshoppers, The traces of the smallest spider’s web, The collars of the moonshine’s watery beams, Her whip of cricket’s bone, the lash of film, Her wagoner a small grey-coated gnat, Not so big as a round little worm Prick’d from the lazy finger of a maid; Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub, Time out o’ mind the fairies’ coachmakers. (…)

7. Lyric Poetry highly musical verse, expresses the observations and feeling of a single speaker, achieved through rhythm and musical devices Some examples from class: “Imagine” John Lennon “Where is the Love?” Black Eyed Peas “Scarecrow” Melissa Etheridge

8. Sonnet 14 line poem, usually written in rhymed iambic pentameter Shakespearean/Eliabethan: abab, cdcd, efef, gg Petrarchan/Italian: abba, abba, cde, cde –or other combination of c, d, and e

9. Sonnets continued… Shakespearean/Eliabethan: abab, cdcd, efef, gg Many examples in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (Below is from the Prologue) Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their children's end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

10. Sonnets continued… Petrarchan/Italian : abba, abba, cde, cde –or other combination of c, d, and e Example: A Wreath for Emmett Till