Literary Genres- Poetry

The four main traditional categories in poetry

1. Lyric

2. Narrative

3. Dramatic

4. Satirical

Lyric Poetry

focuses on deep, personal emotions and inner thoughts rather than telling a full story

Sub genres of lyric poetry

1. Sonnet

2. Ode

3. Elegy

4. Haiku

5. Villanelle

Sonnet

A strict 14 line poem, typically featuring a specific rhyming pattern and a “turn” or shift in thought

Ode

A formal, often elevated poem written to praise or celebrate a specific person, place, or thing

Elegy

A contemplative, melancholic poem mourning death or reflection loss

Haiku

A brief, unrhymed Japanese poetic form consisting of three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable structure, often heavily focused on nature

Villanelle

A high structured 19-line poem featuring two repeating rhymes and two refrains

volta

a shift or dramatic change in tone in a sonnet

The Shakespearean Sonnet

Characterized by its division into three quatrains (four lines each) and a final rhyming couplet

Three 4-line stanzas + one 2-line stanza

structure of a Shakespearean Sonnet

ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean Sonnet

The Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet

Originating with the Italian poet Petrarch with a structure divides the poem into two unequal blocks

one 8-line stanza (octave) followed by a 6-line stanza (sestet)

The Petrarchan Sonnet structure

ABBA ABBA for the octave and a variation like CDE CDE or CDCDCD for the sestet

Rhyme scheme of a Petrarchan Sonnet

Traditional sonnets are written in

iambic pentameter

iambic pentameter

10 syllables divided into five parks (iambs) where every second syllable is stressed

meter

the fundamental rhythmic structure of a verse, defined by regular, measured pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that gives poetry its musicality, flow, and structural design

A metric foot typically contains

two or three syllables

Trochee

a stressed followed by an unstressed sullable

anapest

two unstressed followed by a stressed syllable

dactyl

a stressed followed by two unstressed syllables

double, double, toil and troubl

example of trochaic terameter

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

example of an iambic pentameter

Narrative poetry

dedicated to telling a full story

epic

a massive tale written in an elevated style, often chronicling heroic deeds, mythology, and cultural values

Strophe

the opening stanza in an ode with a complex, specific matter

antistrophe

the second stanza in an ode

epode

the final stanza in an ode that summarizes the poem

Horatian ode

named after Horace and has a quieter, more intimate tone

Irregular (English/Romantic) Ode

popularized by Romantic-era poets like John Keats and offers the most freedom

• Lament

• Praise

• Consolation

The progression of an elegy

The poet express sorrow or grief

the lament

the speaker reflects on the positive qualities, memory, and impact of the deceased

the praise

consolation

the poem moved towards acceptance

Villanelle are composed of

five tercets (three-line stanzas)

ballad

A type of narrative poem that traditionally was intended to be sung or recited, often featuring a simple rhythm and repetitive refrains

metrical romance

a longer, narrative poem detailing chivalric themes, romantic quests, and medieval legends

“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”

example of a metrical romance

dramatic poetry

written to be spoke or performed by a single speaker or multiple characters often incorporating dialogue

dramatic monologue

A poem where a single character speaks to a silent audience inadvertently revealing their own distinct personality and flaws

verse drama

full plays written entirely in poetic verse like many of Shakespeare’s classic works

Satirical and Speciality Poetry

utilizes humor, irony, and wit to critique individuals, social norms, and political figures

limerick

a humorous, light hearted, and often bawdy 5-line poem with a strict AABBA rhyme scheme

epigram

a brief, sharp, and witty statement or poem, often ending in a punchline or clever observation

free verse

poetry that intentionally avoids strict metrical patterns, rhyming structures, or musical rules, allowing the natural speech rhythm to dictate the flow

“Theme for English B”

example of a free verse poem