Poetry Terms

Epic

Ea long narrative poem, which in dignified and elevated style, tells of the mighty deeds of a great

hero. The Odyssey, The Illiad

Ballad

simple, narrative verse which tells a story to be sung or recited; the folk ballad is anonymously

handed down, while the literary ballad has a single author. "La Belle Dame sans Merci"

"Richard Cory" "Sir Patrick Spens"

Pastoral Poem

a poem dealing with shepherds and simple rural life "The Calendar of the Shepherd"
Edmund Spenser

Idyll

a pastoral poem that presents an incident of natural simplicity in a rustic setting; it is descriptive
and presents a "little picture" of country life.

Dramatic Monologue: poetry that reveals a "soul in action": through conversation of one character in a dramatic situation. "My Last Duchess" "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

poetry that reveals a "soul in action": through conversation of one character in a dramatic situation. "My Last Duchess" "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"