2. Forms of Poetry

3. Lyric Poetry PurposeCharacteristics  Expresses the thoughts and feelings of a single speaker  No specific tone  Often in very musical verse  This is broad category which includes many specific types of poems such as sonnets, odes, and elegies. Example: poeticterminology.net: poeticterminology.net

4. Sonnets PurposeCharacteristics  Subject may vary  Purpose is to praise  Formal tone  14 lines  Formal tone  Rhyme  Pertrarchan: abbaabbacdecde  Shakespearean: ababcdcdefefgg  Meter: unstressed/stressed  Lines and Stanzas  Petrarchan: 8 then 6  Shakespearean: 4/4/4/2(couplet) Example: “Harriet Beecher Stowe” pg. 735 sonnets.org A form of Lyric Poetry

5. Odes PurposeCharacteristics  Celebrating or honoring :  Person  Object  Idea  Formal tone  Rhyme and Rhythm Example: “Ode to Enchanted Light” pg. 685 Poetryfoundation.orgPoetryfoundation.org : “Ode to Marbles” A form of Lyric Poetry

6. Elegies PurposeCharacteristics  Reflect on death or other solemn, serious themes  Formal tone  Structure varies considerably Example: “O Captain! My Captain!” pg. 777 “To an Athlete Dying Young”“To an Athlete Dying Young” poets.org A form of Lyric Poetry

7. Narrative Poetry PurposeCharacteristics  Tells a story in verse  No specific tone  Similar to a short story:  Plot  Setting  Characters  Problem/resolution  Includes smaller categories such as epics and ballads

8. Epics PurposeCharacteristics  Exciting or inspiring story  Usually about a hero  Serious tone that fits the subject  Long narrative poem  Often begin with an appeal to a muse (a being that inspires artists) Example: “Invocation” from John Brown’s Body pg. 1078 Info on John Brown’s Body: historynet.com A form of Narrative Poetry

9. Ballads PurposeCharacteristics  Tell a story about—  Adventure  Tragedy  Romance  No specific tone  Structured like songs  Verses move the action forward  Repeated refrains drive the main message foreword Example: “John Henry” pg. 1045 “The Broken-Legg’d Man” “The Ballad of Billy the Kid” by Billy Joel A form of Narrative Poetry

10. Free Verse Poetry PurposeCharacteristics  Any purpose  No specific tone  No strict structure  No regular meter  No intentional rhyme  No fixed line length  No specific stanza pattern  Contains a loose structure that fits the poem Example: “Describe Somebody” pg. 645 poemfarm.amylv.com

11. Limericks PurposeCharacteristics  Humorous  Humorous tone  Five lines  Specific rhythm pattern  Rhyme scheme: aabba  Rhythm : Poetry4kids.com Poetry4kids.com Example: grahamlester.web.caom

12. Concrete/shape Poem PurposeCharacteristic  The shape of the words suggest a topic or idea in the poem  Words are arranged in a shape  Often lighthearted or humorous tone  Loose structure  No regular meter  May rhyme Example: “Easy Driver” pg. 643 Poetrysoup.com

13. Haikus PurposeCharacteristic  Nature poems that are simple yet intense  Thoughtful or playful tone  Short  Unrhymed  Simple and powerful  Strict structure  Line 1: 5 syllables  Line 2: 7 syllables  Line 3: 5 syllables Example: Poetry.orgPoetry.org Poetrysoup.com