The Different Kinds Of Poetry
Posted by anjila | Posted in Literature Theory , Poetry | Posted on 12:31 AM
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- Pastoral: This kind of poetry deals with anything that concerns the life of shepherds, herdsmen, and husbandmen. Such poems are usually in the form of a dialogue or a monologue. e.g Spenser's Shepherd's Calender (A.D. 1552-1599)
- Descriptive: This kind of poetry describes the seasons of the year, scenes of historical interest, cities, places, countries, etc., and gives expression to the thoughts suggested by the various scenes and objects as they arise. Descriptive poetry doesn't usually narrate events. If narrative is sometimes introduced, this is done by way of episode or for the sake of variety. e.g.Goldsmith's Traveler and Deserted Village(1563-1631)
- Narrative: In this(as the name implies) narrative is the chief aim, and the description is merely subsidiary. Poems of this character may be roughly classified under three headings.
- Epic or Heroic: dealing with one great complex action, in lofty style, and in fullness of detail. e.g. Paradise Lost by Milton(1608-1674)
- Romance, Legend or Tale: a lighter and shorter kind of narrative poetry than the Epic. e.g. Coleridge's Ancient Mariner ( 1772-1834)
- Ballads: This is the lightest and shortest form of narrative poetry. It deals with short anecdotes, local legends, etc., and tells them in the simplest language and in a light metre. e.g. Wordsworth's Lyrical Ballads(1770-1850)
- Reflective: Poems of this character may be roughly classified into two headings.
- Longer Poem: e.g Young's Night Thoughts(1684-1765)
- Elegiac poems: always of a serious, and frequently of a plaintive character. e.g Shelly's Adonais(1792-1822)
- Dramatic: the poetry of the stage. Under the head of dramatic we must include poems which have been written in form of drama, but were not intended to be acted. e.g. Shakespeare's Plays, subdivided into Tragedies, Comedies, and Histories(1564-1616)
- Lyrical: Short poems written in a rapid and irregular metre, fit to be sung or recited. Such poems are often called odes. They are of much higher order than "ballads," and may be either descriptive or narrative. E.g. Gray's The Bard
- Didactic: Instructions given in verse. e.g. Somerville's Chace (1692-1742)
- Satire: Censures the faults of individual or communities. The style may be jocose or serious. Butler's Hubidras(1612-1680)