FORMS OF POETRY

FORMS OF POETRY

There are two types of poetry as the broader category according to perspectives/views, these are;

1. Traditional poetry

2. Modern poetry

TRADITIONAL POETRY This refers to poems written by using rules or principles like equal number of verses in each stanza and follows rhyming pattern. It is known as closed form of writing poems as it is governed by strict rules or principles.

MODERN POETRY It is free verse, open form of writing poems in which the traditional strict rules and principles are not followed, instead are ignored.

But we have types of poetry according to form (structure) and content. Under this category, we have three major types of poetry, namely;

v  Narrative poetry

v  II. Lyric or lyrical poetry

v  III. Dramatic poetry

NARRATIVE POEMS these are kinds of poems which tell a story that are presented in the form of narrating a story. We have many poems (classifications) which belong to this category like Descriptive, didactic, epic, ballad etc.

DESCRIPTIVE POEMS

These are specific categories of narrative poetry and are presented by describing/giving features/ characteristics of something/things.

DIDACTIC POEMS:

Are those poems which give instructions and are composed for educative purposes/issues. For example, “Front line” by George Shea

EPIC POEMS:

These are gland heroic poems that try to narrate about phenomena or events of heroes/heroic figures in a given society. Or it is a form of poem that recounts/tells accomplishment of a heroic figure. It includes expansive setting, superhuman feats, gods and supernatural being.

BALLAD:

Is a poem whereby it involves more than oneself/personal in conversation or speaking in turn.

These are some of narrative poetry as there are others like reflective, expressive etc.

LYRICAL POEMS

Are poems which express strong feelings/emotions of the speaker or persona. There are three classifications of lyrical poems, which are ode, elegy and sonnet.

ODE

: Is a poem that expresses serious issues/addresses a person or celebration of events.

ELEGY:

Is a poem that expresses sorrowful or sad strong feelings especially on death of a close person. Or is a type of poem in which a poet mourns the death of a specific person. For example, “The Funeral of Martin Luther King Jr.” by Nikki Glovanni.

SONNET:

Is a poem that expresses feelings using fourteen verses/ is a fourteen line poem normally with a distinctive rhyme skills and a metrical pattern. “If we must die” “Merry-goround” and “The strange wind” are good examples of sonnet poems.

III. DRAMATIC POETRY Is a kind of poetry that involves dramatic narrative form and using more than one-self/persona. There are two specifications of dramatic poetry;

MONOLOGUE: Refer to poems that are under this category that involve one speaker who is in charge of more than him/herself. E.g. “Song of Lawino”

DIALOGUE: Refer to poems which are involving more than one speaker or persona.

3.      DRAMA/PLAY Is a piece of writing performed by actors in a theatre, television or radio. It ought to be a just and likely image of human nature, reproducing the passions and homers and the change of fortune to which it is subjected for the delight and instructions of mankind.

It refers to the imitation of complete actions adapted to the sympathetic attention of man, developed in a succession of continuously related incidents acted and expressed by means of speech and the symbol actualities and conditions of life. If a drama does not use/employ words instead it only uses gestures, it is now called a pantomime