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What is Poetry?

Certainly, most people have heard a poem or two in their lifetime. Poetry has been found in every culture in human history. Poems move and inspire us. However, the question still remains, excatly what is poetry?

History of Poetry

Poetry itself is prehistoric in nature. Early humans used language with accompanying music. This was done in song, rituals, prayers and magic spells. The patterns in poetry assisted people to remember and preserve their own oral poetry through seveal generations. Once writing was developed, poetry became a written art form.

In ancient Greece, poets recited their works at religious festivals and public cermonies of importance. Major forms were developed because of Greek poetry. These include the epic, the lyric, and the dramatic poem. The oldest known (and surviving) Greek poems were the epics of the Illiad and the Odyssey.

Greek poetry in turn influenced Roman poetry. The Illiad and the Odyssey served as models of the Aeneid (by Virgil) in 30.B.C.

In other cultures, poetry is also important. The Old Testament contains much poetry. The Psalms and the Song of Solomon are good examples of some of the most powerful Hebrew lyrics. Hebrew poets created rhythm in their verse by repeating words, ideas, and images.

In China poetry is conisdered one of the highest artforms, next to calligraphy. Many calligraphers themselves are in fact poets. Written characters are not thrown out (such as in Western culture) but burned in a speical pagoda. In homes, Tui Tzu (Parallel Sentneces) poems are hung along walls. During the Tang dynasty, Han Yu composed long poetic eulogy's that are still popular today.

During the medival period (400AD-1400AD), poems consisted of epics about heroic figures such as kings and chiefs. Many of these were sadly not written down, or just were lost during the course of human history. A couple good examples still remain. These include Beowulf and the Song of Rowland. Also popular during this period of European history is lyric poetry. Most of these poems were about courty love. Troubadours (poet musicians) were prominent in France and other countries. Much of the poetry of the time reflects man's relation to the Church and to God. One of the most popular poets Dante Alighieri put down his personal feelings in an epic known as The Divine Comedy. It leads the reader through hell, purgatory, and then into heaven. It is prehaps one of the most well known poems of the 1300's. Romanic poems became rather popular during this period. Most of these poems revolved around knights and their chivalry. One of the greatest poets concerning this sujbect is Geoffrey Chaucer, who wrote the Canterbury Tales.

The next phase of poetry occured during the Renaissance. Different styles and forms of poetry became popular. Most of the new developments occured in Italy and France. Madgrials and Pastorals became increasinly frequent. In England Sir Thomas Wyatt and the Early of Surrey introduced several new styles into English literature. These included a 12 syllable line called alexandrine; the Italian sonnet; and the terza rima, a three line stanza form made famous by Dante's Divine Comedy. The language itself began to differ from early forms of poetry. Latin was out-and the poet's own langauge was in. English poets works became rather popular. For instance, Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene-a six book epic. Other characters such as Michael Drayton, Shakespeare, and Philip Sidney gained prominence.

Neoclassical poetry (1660-1800) was the next dominant phase. It attempted to recapture literary idology of poets such as Ovid and Virgil. Usually, the verse are strucuturally balanced and express emotions in refined, restrained ways. The "heroic couplet" (two rhymed lines of iambic pentameter) were used by the likes of John Dryden and Alexander Pope.

Romantic poetry began in 1798 with the publication of Lyrical Ballads (a colllection of poems by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge). It was radically different from the contrained Neoclassical poetry movement. Romatic poets tended to use simple language and wrote about common subjects, such as nature and daily activities. Some of the most popular poets of this era were Blake, Byron, Keats, Shelley, and of course Wordsworth and Coleridge,

Another movement in poetry was called Victorian Poetry. These poets used similiar themes of of Romantic poets but reflected the intellectual and social changes that occured during the period of time from 1837-1901.

Modern poetry is said to have begun around the second half of the 1800's. It was based on the French movement of Symbolism. Poets were influnced by Dickinson and Whitman. Whitman used common dialect in his poetry, written in free verse. Dickinson creatively made original variations of traditional meters.

In the 1900's poets became more ecclectic. The poetry tends towards more free verse and varied rhythms of everyday speech. Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, William Carlos Williams, were all prominant poets in this era. In the 50's and 60's poets began to use autobiographical material in their works. Beatnik poets sprung up such as Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Poetry in modern times has been characterized by the increasing recognition of minorities such as women, Native Americans, and African Americans.

Elements of Poetry

The definition of poetry is a literary work written in verse, usually of high quality that has great beauty and emotional sincerity. Poetry contains certain basic elements. Rhythm and meter are prominent elements that assist in giving poetry its "flowing" feeling. Certain punctuation can force a reader to make a pause (such as in Gwendolyn Brooks' We Real Cool). An important aspect of poetry is the use of stressing and unstressing syllables. This can also give a certain feeling to a poem. Sound can be used to create effects in poetry as well. It is another common element that a reader encounters. Sound can be altered by rhymes and rhyme schemes. Repetition is also used to reinforce ideas. Imagery is the sensation that language creates in the mind. These sensations often give the reader a pictoral image of what is occuring in the poem. They are useful elements in that they allow the reader to feel more connected to what the poem is saying. Forms, such as sonnets, often let the reader know a change is about to happen. All of the elements of poetry combine to give the reader a clear picture of what the author desires.

How to Read Poetry

Poetry to the student may appear to be a daunting task. It is not however, as difficult as it seems. When analyzing a poem for pleasure or a class assignement, it is always important to remember to address certain subjects, First, who or what is the voice of the poem? Is it a man in a prison, a lonely woman or man (such as in T.S. Eliot's The Wasteland). Do not assume it is the author itself. Many times the author uses a persona to express his or her feelings. Secondly, what are you as the listener supposed to gather from the poem? What is it saying to you? Upon reading it do you feel happy, frightened, distrubed, or excited? Each of these feelings is somehow related to the poem's meaning. Lastly, do not forget to remember the context of the poem. Too many times people take words or phrases out of context while reading the poem. Always look up words when you have no idea what they really mean (such as wrasse or zooks).

Important Terms for the Study of Poetry

Home

Sources:

World Book Encyclopedia 2004 CD-ROM

Gwynn, RS. Poetry: A Pocket Anthology. 4th ed. Ed. R.S. Gwynn. NY: Penguin Academics, 2005.

Yee ,Chiang. Chinese Calligraphy 3rd ed. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1973.

	History of Poetry
	Poetry itself is prehistoric in nature. Early humans used language with accompanying music. This was done in song, rituals, prayers and magic spells. The patterns in poetry assisted people to remember and preserve their own oral poetry through seveal generations. Once writing was developed, poetry became a written art form. In ancient Greece, poets recited their works at religious festivals and public cermonies of importance. Major forms were developed because of Greek poetry. These include the epic, the lyric, and the dramatic poem. The oldest known (and surviving) Greek poems were the epics of the Illiad and the Odyssey. Greek poetry in turn influenced Roman poetry. The Illiad and the Odyssey served as models of the Aeneid (by Virgil) in 30.B.C. In other cultures, poetry is also important. The Old Testament contains much poetry. The Psalms and the Song of Solomon are good examples of some of the most powerful Hebrew lyrics. Hebrew poets created rhythm in their verse by repeating words, ideas, and images. In China poetry is conisdered one of the highest artforms, next to calligraphy. Many calligraphers themselves are in fact poets. Written characters are not thrown out (such as in Western culture) but burned in a speical pagoda. In homes, Tui Tzu (Parallel Sentneces) poems are hung along walls. During the Tang dynasty, Han Yu composed long poetic eulogy's that are still popular today. During the medival period (400AD-1400AD), poems consisted of epics about heroic figures such as kings and chiefs. Many of these were sadly not written down, or just were lost during the course of human history. A couple good examples still remain. These include Beowulf and the Song of Rowland. Also popular during this period of European history is lyric poetry. Most of these poems were about courty love. Troubadours (poet musicians) were prominent in France and other countries. Much of the poetry of the time reflects man's relation to the Church and to God. One of the most popular poets Dante Alighieri put down his personal feelings in an epic known as The Divine Comedy. It leads the reader through hell, purgatory, and then into heaven. It is prehaps one of the most well known poems of the 1300's. Romanic poems became rather popular during this period. Most of these poems revolved around knights and their chivalry. One of the greatest poets concerning this sujbect is Geoffrey Chaucer, who wrote the Canterbury Tales. The next phase of poetry occured during the Renaissance. Different styles and forms of poetry became popular. Most of the new developments occured in Italy and France. Madgrials and Pastorals became increasinly frequent. In England Sir Thomas Wyatt and the Early of Surrey introduced several new styles into English literature. These included a 12 syllable line called alexandrine; the Italian sonnet; and the terza rima, a three line stanza form made famous by Dante's Divine Comedy. The language itself began to differ from early forms of poetry. Latin was out-and the poet's own langauge was in. English poets works became rather popular. For instance, Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene-a six book epic. Other characters such as Michael Drayton, Shakespeare, and Philip Sidney gained prominence. Neoclassical poetry (1660-1800) was the next dominant phase. It attempted to recapture literary idology of poets such as Ovid and Virgil. Usually, the verse are strucuturally balanced and express emotions in refined, restrained ways. The "heroic couplet" (two rhymed lines of iambic pentameter) were used by the likes of John Dryden and Alexander Pope. Romantic poetry began in 1798 with the publication of Lyrical Ballads (a colllection of poems by William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge). It was radically different from the contrained Neoclassical poetry movement. Romatic poets tended to use simple language and wrote about common subjects, such as nature and daily activities. Some of the most popular poets of this era were Blake, Byron, Keats, Shelley, and of course Wordsworth and Coleridge, Another movement in poetry was called Victorian Poetry. These poets used similiar themes of of Romantic poets but reflected the intellectual and social changes that occured during the period of time from 1837-1901. Modern poetry is said to have begun around the second half of the 1800's. It was based on the French movement of Symbolism. Poets were influnced by Dickinson and Whitman. Whitman used common dialect in his poetry, written in free verse. Dickinson creatively made original variations of traditional meters. In the 1900's poets became more ecclectic. The poetry tends towards more free verse and varied rhythms of everyday speech. Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, William Carlos Williams, were all prominant poets in this era. In the 50's and 60's poets began to use autobiographical material in their works. Beatnik poets sprung up such as Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Poetry in modern times has been characterized by the increasing recognition of minorities such as women, Native Americans, and African Americans.
	Elements of Poetry
	The definition of poetry is a literary work written in verse, usually of high quality that has great beauty and emotional sincerity. Poetry contains certain basic elements. Rhythm and meter are prominent elements that assist in giving poetry its "flowing" feeling. Certain punctuation can force a reader to make a pause (such as in Gwendolyn Brooks' We Real Cool). An important aspect of poetry is the use of stressing and unstressing syllables. This can also give a certain feeling to a poem. Sound can be used to create effects in poetry as well. It is another common element that a reader encounters. Sound can be altered by rhymes and rhyme schemes. Repetition is also used to reinforce ideas. Imagery is the sensation that language creates in the mind. These sensations often give the reader a pictoral image of what is occuring in the poem. They are useful elements in that they allow the reader to feel more connected to what the poem is saying. Forms, such as sonnets, often let the reader know a change is about to happen. All of the elements of poetry combine to give the reader a clear picture of what the author desires.
	How to Read Poetry
	Poetry to the student may appear to be a daunting task. It is not however, as difficult as it seems. When analyzing a poem for pleasure or a class assignement, it is always important to remember to address certain subjects, First, who or what is the voice of the poem? Is it a man in a prison, a lonely woman or man (such as in T.S. Eliot's The Wasteland). Do not assume it is the author itself. Many times the author uses a persona to express his or her feelings. Secondly, what are you as the listener supposed to gather from the poem? What is it saying to you? Upon reading it do you feel happy, frightened, distrubed, or excited? Each of these feelings is somehow related to the poem's meaning. Lastly, do not forget to remember the context of the poem. Too many times people take words or phrases out of context while reading the poem. Always look up words when you have no idea what they really mean (such as wrasse or zooks).
	Important Terms for the Study of Poetry
	Home
	Sources: World Book Encyclopedia 2004 CD-ROM Gwynn, RS. Poetry: A Pocket Anthology. 4th ed. Ed. R.S. Gwynn. NY: Penguin Academics, 2005. Yee ,Chiang. Chinese Calligraphy 3rd ed. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1973.