Poetry

 

1.) Poetry is a literary work or expression / heart of a poet in conveying a message.

2.) Three Genres of Poetry:

- Lyric

- Narrative

- Dramatic 

Examples of Poetry Genres

Lyric Poetry

Lyric poetry is especially song-like and emotional. Sonnets and odes are examples of poems that are lyrical in nature. Lyric poems do not necessarily tell a story but focus on more personal emotions, attitudes, and the author's state of mind.

Authors of note in this category include:

• William Shakespeare

• Christine de Pizan

• Teresa of Ávila

• Antonio Machado

• T. S. Eliot

• John Keats

• Elizabeth Barrett Browning 

Let's take a look at sample poems from Keats and Browning. See if you can pick up on the lyricism, or song-like quality, and emotion. These aren't merely about superficial snippets in time. Rather, they illustrate strong emotion. 

Ode on a Grecian Urn

Here's an example of lyric poetry by English Romantic poet John Keats. This excerpt is taken from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." Notice it doesn't tell a story, per se. Rather, it focuses on his interior thoughts. 

"O Attic shape! Fair attitude! with brede

Of marble men and maidens overwrought,

With forest branches and the trodden weed;

Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought

As doth eternity: Cold Pastoral!

When old age shall this generation waste,

Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe

Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st,

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,-that is all

Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."

Narrative Poetry

A narrative poem tells a story. Typically, these can be read aloud and will maintain the audience's attention due to their rhythmic movement.

In fact, many narrative poems of the past were initially written as ballads. That is, they were intended to be paired to music. In the end, though, they maintained their lyricism in the form of poetry. Narrative poems are usually of human interest and include epics, or long stories.

Authors of note in this category include:

• Edgar Allen Poe

• Roald Dahl

• Edna St. Vincent Millay

• Alfred Lord Tennyson

• William Wordsworth

• Jeffrey Chaucer

• Edwin Arlington Robinson

Although narrative poems have an element of lyricism to them, the point is they're relaying a story, as opposed to harping on an emotion. Let's enjoy one of Poe's most famous poems, as well as a sampling from Edna St. Vincent Millay. 

The Raven

Following is the last stanza of Edgar Allan Poe's poem, "The Raven." Note the flow to his prose. It is kind of sing-songy. And, you can surmise he's speaking of death. But, this is classified as a narrative poem because it tells a story. A series of events unfold as we envision the raven for ourselves. 

"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore-

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door-

Only this and nothing more."

 

Dramatic Poetry

Dramatic poetry encompasses a highly emotional story that's written in verse and meant to be recited. It usually tells a story or refers to a specific situation. This would include closet drama, dramatic monologues, and rhyme verse.

Authors of note in this category include:

Authors of note in this category include:

• William Shakespeare

• Christopher Marlowe

• Ben Jonson

• Pedro Calderon de la Barca

• Robert Browning

• Sylvia Plath

• James Joyce

You might wonder about the difference between narrative and dramatic poetry. First, narrative poetry often has a narrator, or a single person relaying the take. A second difference lies in the opening of each form of poetry. Narrative poetry tends to set the scene and describe what's happening, whereas dramatic poetry tends to lead with a main character entering the scene and speaking. Let's take a look at a couple of samples from Robert Browning and Pedro Calderon de la Barca. 

My Last Duchess

Here is an excerpt from the opening of Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess." Notice how he sets the scene, allowing us to envision the painting on the wall. Then, he goes on to tell a story. 

That's my last Duchess painted on the wall,

Looking as if she were alive. I call

That piece a wonder, now; Fra Pandolf's hands

Worked busily a day, and there she stands.

Will't please you sit and look at her? I said

"Fra Pandolf" by design, for never read

Strangers like you that pictured countenance,

The depth and passion of its earnest glance,

But to myself they turned (since none puts by

The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)

And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,

How such a glance came there; so, not the first

Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, 'twas not

Her husband's presence only, called that spot

Of joy into the Duchess' cheek; perhaps

Fra Pandolf chanced to say, "Her mantle laps

Over my lady's wrist too much," or "Paint

Must never hope to reproduce the faint

Half-flush that dies along her throat." 

3.) Types of Indonesian Poetry

Poetry consists of figure of speech and rhythm, words of connotation, words with symbols, and imagination.  Poetry also has several types, depending on the writing and content.  The types of poetry in Indonesian are narrative poetry, lyric poetry, and descriptive poetry. 

Narrative Poetry

Narrative poetry is a type of poetry that tells the poet's story or explanation of an object.  This poetry is divided into two kinds, namely ballads and romance. Ballads are poems that contain stories about powerful people or idol figures.  Meanwhile, romance is a type of story poetry that tells a story in romantic language.  Usually, it is a love story interspersed with fights and adventures. 

Poetry Lyrics

The second type of poetry is lyric poetry.  Lyric poetry contains expressions of feelings arranged in arrays or lines.  Lyric poetry consists of three types, namely elegies, ode, and serenada. Elegi is a poem that expresses feelings of sorrow.  Meanwhile, ode is a poem that contains adoration for someone, something, or a situation.  Finally, serenada is a love poem that can be sung.  The word serenada itself means a song that is sung right at dusk.

Descriptive Poetry

Descriptive poetry is poetry delivered by the author to give the reader an impression of a situation, event, object or atmosphere that is considered attractive to the reader.  There are two types of descriptive poetry, namely satire and social critical poetry. Satire is poetry that expresses the poet's dissatisfaction with a situation, but is conveyed through satire or states the opposite.

Meanwhile, social criticism poetry is poetry which also expresses the poet's displeasure with one's situation or self.  But in contrast to satire satire, social critical poetry vividly exposes the faults of the situation or person.