Introduction to Poetry: Genres, Forms, and Analysis
Revision Notes: World Literature – Exploring Poetry
What is Literature?
Literature is often defined as a reflection of life. Studying literature allows us to understand and appreciate our literary heritage and embark on a journey of learning and discovery.
What is Poetry?
Poetry is one of the three major types of literature. Poems are often characterized by their unique structure, utilizing lines and stanzas. They frequently employ rhythmic patterns or meters, although some are written in free verse.
Characteristics of Poetry
- Evokes emotions and feelings
- Encompasses a wide range of experiences
- Serves as a form of word-music
- Engages all the senses
- Satisfies the reader’s desire for rhythm
- Combines observation with imagination
Elements of Poetry
- Persona or the Voice: The speaker in a poem, whose voice the reader “hears.” This could be the poet or a fictional character.
- Theme: The underlying message or insight into life revealed by the poem.
- Rhyme: The repetition of sounds at the ends of words. End rhyme occurs at the end of lines, creating a rhyme scheme.
- Rhythm: The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry, contributing to the poem’s mood.
Poetry: Genres and Forms
| Lyric | Dramatic | Narrative | Special |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Sonnets English/Shakespearean Sonnet Italian/Petrarchan Sonnet Spenserian Sonnet 2. Elegy 3. Odes 4. Songs 5. Psalms 6. Simple Lyric | I. Epic A. Metrical Tale Medieval Romance Ballad (in narrative poems) B. Fabliau C. Social Poems |
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Analysis of Specific Poems
On “How Do I Love Thee” (Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
- Reflects Browning’s passionate love for Robert Browning.
- Published in 1850 as part of Sonnets from the Portuguese.
On “His Blindness” (John Milton)
- A Petrarchan sonnet exploring Milton’s blindness and his relationship with God.
- Expresses the speaker’s struggle to reconcile his talent with his disability.
On “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day” (William Shakespeare)
- A Shakespearean sonnet with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
- Explores themes of love, beauty, and the passage of time.
How to Analyze a Shakespearean Sonnet
- Consider the three underlying themes: brevity of life, transience of beauty, and the trappings of desire.
“Ode to a Nightingale” (John Keats)
- An ode celebrating the beauty and joy of the nightingale’s song.
- Explores themes of mortality and the power of beauty.
“Elegy for Jane, My Student Thrown by a Horse” (Theodore Roethke)
- An elegy mourning the death of a young student.
- Reflects on the relationship between a teacher and student.
- Employs vivid imagery and metaphors to depict Jane’s beauty and personality.
“Imagine” (John Lennon)
- A politically charged song promoting peace and unity.
- Encourages listeners to imagine a world without conflict or possessions.
“Iliad” (Homer)
Synopsis: The epic poem recounts the events of the Trojan War, focusing on the wrath of Achilles and its consequences.
- Discussion Question: What does Paris’s choice of Aphrodite’s gift reveal about his character?
- Discussion Question: Does the kind of friendship and affection between Achilles and Patroclus exist in the modern world? Provide an example.