Understanding Lyric Poetry: Forms and Characteristics
Lyric poetry is a distinct literary genre, separate from dramatic narrative. It is associated with poetic content, emotions, and a specific form: the verse. However, verse can also address other issues, such as in narrative poems like “Cantar de Mio Cid”. Additionally, poetry can exist in prose, as seen in “Platero and I” by Juan Ramón Jiménez. Therefore, lyric poetry represents a unique form of communication.
The author, the poet, presents a representation of reality, whether internal or external. Consequently, the expressive or emotive function is predominant in the lyric genre. The poet’s presence is evident through grammatical indicators, and the rare omission of the poetic voice signifies detachment. The receiver, alluded to in the poetry, can vary—it may be the beloved, God, truth, things, poetry itself, or, more commonly, the reader.
The message, in contrast to clear language, is characterized by an everyday opacity. This is produced by the use of expressive resources and the importance of connotations. The referent, or the internal and external reality alluded to in the message, always reflects the poet’s personal vision. In this message, not only what is said but also how it is said is crucial, aiming to provide aesthetic pleasure to the reader. Hence, the special use of common code asserts the poetic function.
Subgenres of Lyric Poetry
- Anthem: A solemn poetic composition that exalts patriotic or religious sentiments, nature, or honors a person, institution, ideology, or celebrates a memorable event. Example: “Hymn to Sadness” by Luis Cernuda.
- Ode: A poetic composition expressing a noble, heroic, religious, or philosophical theme. Example: “Ode to Salt” by Fray Luis de León.
- Elegy: A poem expressing sorrow for the death or disappearance of someone or a painful circumstance. Examples: “Verses on the Death of His Father” by Jorge Manrique and “Lament for Ignacio Sánchez Mejías” by García Lorca.
- Eclogue: A poetic composition in which shepherds express their feelings about love in an idyllic natural setting. Example: “Eclogue of Salicio and Nemoroso” by Garcilaso de la Vega.
- Song: A deeply subjective poetic composition, often with a theme of love for something concrete or abstract, or someone. The term’s value is imprecise and has been applied to various types of compositions, generally any composition intended for singing.
- Madrigal: A short poem praising the beauty of women. Example: “Clear Eyes, Serene” by Gutierre de Cetina.
- Anacreontic: A poetic composition that celebrates the pleasures of wine, the body, orgies, or similar themes. Example: “Anacreontic Odes” by Meléndez Valdés.
- Epistle: A letter in verse that may also be reflective, of relief, or of confession. Example: “Epistle to Manolete” by Gerardo Diego.
- Epithalamium: A song celebrating a wedding. Example: “Epithalamium” by Francisco Villaespesa. Nicolás Fernández de Moratín wrote one for the Infanta Maria Teresa.
- Christmas Carol: A popular composition, themed around love or other topics, with distinctive features, constituting a stanza with the same name. Example: “Carol of God in the Ends” by Eugenio d’Ors.
- Satire: A poem that censors faults or defects, individually or collectively, with a moralizing purpose, for fun, or with burlesque intent. Examples: Góngora’s “Letrillas” (“Ande yo caliente y ríase la gente”) and Quevedo’s “Once upon a time, a man with a nose stuck”.