TYPES OF POETRY Are about different methods of expressing personal feelings and opinions in writing.
LYRIC POETRY a poem that expresses the feelings or thoughts of a speaker rather than telling a story
Lyric Example Point of View, By Shel Silverstein Thanksgiving dinner's sad and thankless Christmas dinner's dark and blue When you stop and try to see it From the turkey's point of view. Sunday dinner isn't sunny Easter feasts are just bad luck When you see it from the viewpoint Of a chicken or a duck. Oh how I once loved tuna salad Pork and lobsters, lamb chops too 'Til I stopped and looked at dinner From the dinner's point of view.
NARRATIVE POETRY a poem that tells a story Ex) Casey at the Bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer
Narrative Example Casey At The Bat Ernest Thayer The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day; The score stood four to two with but one inning left to play; And then, when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same, A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game. A straggling few got up to go, in deep despair. The rest Clung to that hope which "springs eternal in the human breast;" They thought, If only Casey could but get a whack at that, We'd put up even money now, with Casey at the bat. But Flynn procede Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake, And the former was a no-good and the latter was a fake; So, upon that stricken multitude grim meloncholy sat, For there seemed but little chance of Casey's getting to the bat.
EPIC POETRY a long narrative poem that tells the deeds of a heroic character Ex) Homer s Iliad and Odyssey Ex) Beowulf [English] Ex) John Milton s Paradise Lost [English] Ex) The Song of Roland [French] Ex) The Song of Hiawatha [American]
EPIC POETRY SPECIFICS The main character is a hero who is often possessed with supernatural abilities or qualities. The hero is charged with a quest (mission). The hero is tested to prove his worthiness of himself and his quest. The hero s travels take him to the supernatural world that normal human beings cannot enter. The story reaches a low-point in which the hero nearly gives up or seems defeated. There is a resurrection/rebirth and the hero continues his quest. The hero accomplishes his mission and regains his rightful place.
BALLAD a song or poem that tells a story of tragedy or adventure regular rhythm and rhyme Repetition EXAMPLE: The Cremation of Sam McGee
BALLAD SPECIFCS Most ballads TELL A STORY (NARRATIVE FORM). Ballads tend to have a distinctive verse form- Quatrains (FOUR LINE STANZAS). Ballads have refrains so it has a musical quality. Most ballads contain dialogue (PEOPLE TALKING). The common rhyme scheme of many ballads has stanza lines 2 and 4 rhyming. Ballads tend to be very specific and talk about one particular event.
FREE VERSE poetry without a regular meter or rhyme scheme tries to capture natural rhythms of ordinary conversations
FREE VERSE EXAMPLE Winter Poem once a snowflake fell on my brow and i loved it so much and i kissed it and it was happy and called its cousins and brothers and a web of snow engulfed me then i reached to love them all and i squeezed them and they became a spring rain and i stood perfectly still and was a flower Written by Nikki Giovanni
HAIKU focus on nature 17 syllables in 3 lines 5, 7, and 5 Ex) The young artist takes pains to paint a masterpiece: a smiling pumpkin
LIMERICKS short humorous poem 5 lines rhyme scheme: aabba Ex) There once was a poodle named Rose Who liked to dance on her toes. She twirled and she spun, Had barrels of fun, Until she fell on her nose. ~Emma Janeczko
CONCRETE POETRY a poem shaped in a way that visually represents its subject Example) ~Maureen W. Armour
SONNET Shakespearean 14 lines Iambic pentameter (-/-/-/-/-/) Rhyme Scheme: ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG Petrarch 14 lines Iambic pentameter (-/-/-/-/-/) Rhyme Scheme: ABBA, ABBA, CDCDCD ABBA, ABBA, CDECDE
EXAMPLE SONNET by Denise Rodgers After Turkey Day, the garbage bags sat; My dog was tempted by the tasty sight. He tore them open, gorged big, and grew fat, But first he made a mess and caused some blight. He ate some hot sauce and blueberry pies, Then laid around and moaned out loud in pain. I worried in my heart of his demise, And tried to scrub the purple carpet stain. He slowly came around and waddled slow, His belly wide and nearly to the floor. So sad to see my hungry doggy grow So portly wide, he barely fit his door. He survived, but still he is more than stout. I ve learned. Next time I ll take the garbage out!