Poetry FormsPoetry Forms

Power Point #5Power Point #5

EpicEpic

A long narrative poem – that A long narrative poem – that tells an exciting storytells an exciting story

Serious toneSerious tone Usually Usually doesn’tdoesn’t rhyme rhyme Many lines and stanzasMany lines and stanzas Usually begins with an Usually begins with an

appeal to a muse (Greek appeal to a muse (Greek origins) for inspirationorigins) for inspiration

Epics have 6 main characteristicsEpics have 6 main characteristics:: -the hero is of imposing stature, of -the hero is of imposing stature, of

national or international national or international importance, and of great historical importance, and of great historical or legendary significance or legendary significance

-the setting is vast, covering many -the setting is vast, covering many nations, the world, or the universe nations, the world, or the universe

-the action consists of deeds of -the action consists of deeds of great valor or requiring great valor or requiring superhuman courage superhuman courage

-supernatural forces--gods, angels, -supernatural forces--gods, angels, demons--interest themselves in the demons--interest themselves in the action action

-a style of sustained elevation is -a style of sustained elevation is used used

-the poet retains a measure of -the poet retains a measure of objectivity objectivity

Epic - SampleEpic - Sample

Examples:Examples:– The Faire Queene The Faire Queene by by

Edmund SpencerEdmund Spencer– Paradise LostParadise Lost by John by John

MiltonMilton– Gilgamesh Gilgamesh – The Iliad & The The Iliad & The

Odyssey Odyssey by Homerby Homer– Beowulf Beowulf

The Faerie Queene: Book I (1596)

Gentle Knight was pricking on the plaine,Y cladd in mightie armes and siluer shielde,Wherein old dints of deepe wounds did remaine,The cruell markes of many' a bloudy fielde;Yet armes till that time did he neuer wield:His angry steede did chide his foming bitt,As much disdayning to the curbe to yield:Full iolly knight he seemd, and faire did sitt,As one for knightly giusts and fierce encounters fitt.

SonnetSonnet

A 14 line poem A 14 line poem Has specific rhyme Has specific rhyme

patternpattern Usually written to Usually written to

praisepraise Many are written Many are written

about loveabout love Formal/serious toneFormal/serious tone Iambic pentameter Iambic pentameter

(rhythm)(rhythm)

Two Kinds of SonnetsTwo Kinds of Sonnets

Petrarchan (Italian)Petrarchan (Italian)– Two stanzas: one of Two stanzas: one of

eight lines, followed by eight lines, followed by a six line stanzaa six line stanza

– Abbaabba / cdecdeAbbaabba / cdecde Shakespearean Shakespearean

(English)(English)– Four stanzas: three Four stanzas: three

four line stanzas, four line stanzas, followed by one coupletfollowed by one couplet

– Abab / cdcd / efef / ggAbab / cdcd / efef / gg

Sonnet – SampleSonnet – Sample

Sonnet 18 Sonnet 18 By William ShakespeareBy William Shakespeare

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? a a Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Thou art more lovely and more temperate: b b Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, a a And summer's lease hath all too short a date: And summer's lease hath all too short a date: b b Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, c c And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; d d And every fair from fair sometime declines, And every fair from fair sometime declines, c c By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd; By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd; ddBut thy eternal summer shall not fade But thy eternal summer shall not fade e e Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest; Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest; ffNor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade, Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade, e e When in eternal lines to time thou growest: When in eternal lines to time thou growest: f f So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, g g So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. g g

OdeOde

Celebrates a single Celebrates a single object or ideaobject or idea

Single purpose and deals Single purpose and deals with a single subjectwith a single subject

Can be written on just Can be written on just about anythingabout anything

May or may not rhymeMay or may not rhyme Lines and stanzas can Lines and stanzas can

varyvary Elaborate toneElaborate tone

“Ode To Cheese”

Ode To Cheese, Which Makes Us Smile, When Cameras go Clack.Ode To Cheese, Which make us taste, The greatest of flavors,

the wackiest of whack.Ode To Cheese, Blue, Gorgonzola, American and Cheddar.Ode To Cheese, Beja and Feta, In all types of weather.Ode To Cheese, For those on a diet, or trying to get fatter.Ode To Cheese, with crackers and wine, with grapes can flatter.Ode To Cheese, when you're sad and happy, Cheese just fits.Ode To Cheese, Mountains and Mountains, or bits and bits.

Ode to the Cheese, To appreciate, eat, and take pictures.

Is there rhyme here?

How many stanzas?

ElegyElegy

•A formal poem that reflects A formal poem that reflects on on death or another solemn death or another solemn themetheme•Written to memorialize Written to memorialize someonesomeone•Formal & serious toneFormal & serious tone•May or may not rhymeMay or may not rhyme•Lines and stanzas varyLines and stanzas vary

““She Dwelt Among Untrodden WaysShe Dwelt Among Untrodden Ways””By William WordsworthBy William Wordsworth

She dwelt among the untrodden waysShe dwelt among the untrodden waysBeside the springs of Dove,Beside the springs of Dove,A Maid whom there were none to praiseA Maid whom there were none to praiseAnd very few to love:And very few to love:A violet by a mossy stoneA violet by a mossy stoneHalf hidden from the eye!Half hidden from the eye!Fair as a star, when only oneFair as a star, when only oneIs shining in the sky.Is shining in the sky.She lived unknown, and few could knowShe lived unknown, and few could knowWhen Lucy ceased to be;When Lucy ceased to be;But she is in her grave, and, oh,But she is in her grave, and, oh,The difference to me!The difference to me!

What is the poet reflecting on in this poem?

Who is he memorializing?

EpitaphEpitaph

•text honoring the text honoring the deceased, most commonly deceased, most commonly inscribed on a tombstone inscribed on a tombstone or plaque. or plaque. •Traditionally an epitaph is in Traditionally an epitaph is in verse, but there are verse, but there are exceptions. exceptions. •Many Many poets have been known have been known to compose their own epitaphs to compose their own epitaphs prior to their death. prior to their death. •A good epitaph is considered A good epitaph is considered to be one that is memorable, to be one that is memorable, or at least makes one think. or at least makes one think. •A wry trick of many successful A wry trick of many successful epitaphs is to 'speak' to the epitaphs is to 'speak' to the reader and warn them about reader and warn them about their own mortality.their own mortality.

Do Believe I’ll Never Leave YouDo believe I’ll never leave you:Always I’ll be in your heart.Don’t forget my soul is near you,And so we’ll never be apart.Do believe I’ll never leave you:Always I’ll be in your heart.Don’t forget my soul is near you:Death might take my presence from you,Yet we’ll never be apart.~Nicholas Gordon

Do not stand at my grave and weepDo not stand at my grave and weep;I am not there, I do not sleep.I am a thousand winds that blow.I am the diamond glints on snow.I am the sunlight on ripened grain.I am the gentle autumn rain.When you awaken in the morning’s hushI am the swift uplifting rushOf quiet birds in circled flight.I am the soft stars that shine at night.Do not stand at my grave and cry;I am not there, I did not die.~Mary Frye

Epitaph - continuedEpitaph - continued

I knew if I waited around long enough I knew if I waited around long enough something like this would happensomething like this would happen—— George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw

Pardon me for not getting upPardon me for not getting up—— Ernest Hemingway Ernest Hemingway

Here lies Ann Mann,Who lived an old maidBut died an old Mann.

~Dec. 8, 1767

Here lies the bodyof Jonathan Blake

Stepped on the gasInstead of the brake.

"I told you I was sick!"

ConcreteConcrete

•Poetry in which the typographical arrangement of words is as important in conveying the intended effect as the conventional elements of the poem, such as meaning of words, rhythm, rhyme and so on.

•It is sometimes referred to as visual poetry

•May or may not rhyme

•Subject can be just about anything

•Tone is usually playful or light-hearted

•The arrangement of lines and stanzas depends on the shape the poet wishes to make

Concrete - SamplesConcrete - Samples