4.0 Poetic Forms

One cannot stress sufficiently how important form is to the poet. The poet does not select a particular poetic form at random or on whim. The deliberate choice he/she makes is connected to the purpose of the poem. So the reader, confronted with a poem, must be able to recognise and appreciate the poetic form to know how it plays a role in the purpose of the writing. Moreover, knowledge of the features of a poem, such as being conversant with rhyme, rhythm and metre and sound and verbal devices of a poem, is important for the reader. The reader must remember, however, that these features contribute to the poem's message but are NOT ends in themselves. They assist the reader to grasp the affective levels that the poet communicates in the poem and understand why the poet chose a particular poetic form.

  • Key factor in appreciation:
    Knowledge of the main traditional forms of poetry, namely, the ballad, the narrative, the epic, the dramatic and the dramatic monologue, the limerick, the lyric, the metaphysical poem, the sonnet, the ode, the haiku, and blank verse, and their functions.

    [These traditional forms are the basis from which modern writing: free verse and prose poetry, as well as humorous and concrete poetry, acrostics and catalogue poems evolved. With such knowledge it is possible for the reader to see how the modern poet often borrows from the traditional forms but also explores and experiments. To him/her, as with the poets of the past, the form of the poem reflects the purpose of the poem and its message]
  • Remember:
    Always ask yourself as you look at a poem for the first time: "WHY did the poet, modern or otherwise, choose this particular form and arrangement?"
  • Remember also:
    A deliberate choice signals a poet's decision to operate within the restraints of a particular form, even though his/her approach may be innovative in many ways.

Broadly speaking, poetry falls into three categories:

Narrative and the Ballad The narrative form of poetry in the English language had its beginnings in the ballad.

Lyric and emotions Lyric poetry deals with emotions and can be of several kinds, for example, the sonnet and the ode, the haiku, but need not be in any of these forms.

Dramatic in poetry While dramatic poetry is actually drama written in verse, such as the works of Shakespeare, it is also found in dramatic monologue.