Appreciating

Different Types of
Poetry

Poetry
Derived from the Greek word poiein, to
make and the poet is therefore one who
invents or makes things up.
Usually associated with artificial or highly
refined language.
It makes use of meter, rhyme, and various
devices including sound of words.

Greek Division of Poetry

Narrative
Dramatic
Lyric

Narrative poetry
Tells a story
May be long, short, thrilling, sad, or funny
Exists for the purpose of telling story
It contains elements of fiction such as
character, setting, plot, and dialogue
Example: epic

Dramatic Poetry
Poetic drama also tells a story
Unlike narrative, it is spoke and acted out
on the stage
Stage play example of dramatic poetry
Prose took the place of poetry in the drama
Examples:
Julius Caesar
A Midsummer Nights Dream

Lyric Poetry
Originally intended to be sung to the
accompaniment of a lyre
The word lyric comes from the Greek word
lyre
Means a verse that is meant to be sung;
song poetry
Today, lyric poetry refers to any poem that
expresses a feeling, voices a mood, reveals
a desire

Different Kinds of Lyric Poetry

Important kinds
1. Song
2. Ode
3. Ballad
4. Elegy
5. Sonnet

Song

Intended to be sung
Example:
Auld Lang Syne, a Scottish song
Song to Celia by Ben Jonson

Ode

Addressed in an exalted manner to an

object or person
Examples:
Ode to Nightingale by John Keats
Ode to the West Wind by Percy Bysshe
Shelley

Ballad

A simple tale told in simple verse, generally

folk songs handed down by oral tradition
Examples:
Lord Randal
Get up and bar the door
Robinhood and Little John

Elegy

Has death and mourning for its theme

Examples:
Break!Break!Break! By Alfred Lord
Tennyson
Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard by
Thomas Hardy

Sonnet

A poem of fourteen lines

Example:
On His Blindness by John Milton
How do I love thee? By Elizabeth Barret
Browning

OTHER TYPES OF POEMS

Haiku
Cinquain
Diamante
Limerick

HAIKU
A seventeen-syllable poem of three lines
arranged in lines 5,7, and 5 syllables
This brief poem describes bits of life,
beautiful scenery, or lovely things that
appeal to the senses.

CINQUAIN
A five line verse poem where
Line 1 states the theme
Line 2 describes the theme
Line 3 enacts the theme
Line 4 gives a feeling of the theme
Line 5 states another word for the theme

DIAMANTE
A poem consisting of seven lines and
written in shape of a diamond.
The objective is to go from the subject at
the top of the diamond to another totally
different and sometimes the opposite
subject at the bottom.

Line 1 one noun (subject number 1)

Line 2 two adjectives (describing subject
no.1)
Line 3 three participles (ending in ing)
telling about subject no.1
Line 4 four nouns (first two related to
subject no.1, second two related to subject
no.2)

Line 5 three participles ( about subject

number 2)
Line 6 two adjectives (describing subject
number 2)
Line 7 one noun ( subject number 2)

LIMERICK
A nonsense verse of five lines
Usually funny, silly, or ridiculous.

Identify the kind of each

poem:

Birds in the forest

all the trees and flowers
Show Gods great powers

Girls
playful, carefree
playing, dancing, singing
ladies, women, men, guys
running, teasing, jumping
Naughty, active
Boys

Children
Precious gifts
Give love and happiness
How gentle and loving
Angels

I always feel free

Whenever peace is within
Hope therell always be.

Dove
white birds
always flying everywhere
so happy and free
Peace

Fill in the blanks

Teachers
__________________________
Teaching, advising, talking
____________________________________
Listening, reading, writing
Diligent, responsible
Students

Earth
_____________________________
Provide shelter and food
________________________
home

Waves
Graceful dancers
Rolling at sea
_______________________
_______________________

Stars are gifts from God

______________________________
Watch them every night.

Task: Triad
Create an original poem for each type
1. Haiku
2. Cinquain
3. Limerick
4. Diamante