Divisions Divisions of of

LiteratureLiterature

PoetryPoetry ProseProse Poetry may or may not Poetry may or may not use rhyme, as ordinarily use rhyme, as ordinarily it does not in blank and it does not in blank and free verse.free verse.

Prose does not make Prose does not make use of rhyme at all.use of rhyme at all.

Both prose and poetry can stir the emotion as well as the intellect.

Both can convey information as well as pleasure.

PoetryPoetry ProseProse It expresses a strong It expresses a strong emotion or a lofty emotion or a lofty thought compressed thought compressed and intense utterance.and intense utterance.

The main purpose of The main purpose of poetry is to provide poetry is to provide pleasure and delight.pleasure and delight.

It appeals to the It appeals to the emotion and emotion and imagination.imagination.

It is generally It is generally concerned with the concerned with the presentation of an idea, presentation of an idea, concept or point of view concept or point of view in a more ordinary and in a more ordinary and leisurely manner.leisurely manner.The purpose of prose is The purpose of prose is to furnish information, to furnish information, instruction, or instruction, or enlightenment.enlightenment.

It appeals to the It appeals to the intellect.intellect.

I. POETRYI. POETRY

Poetry may be described as rhythmic Poetry may be described as rhythmic imaginative language expressing imaginative language expressing invention, thought, imagination, invention, thought, imagination, taste, passion, and insight of the taste, passion, and insight of the human soul.human soul.

Its purpose is “enthrallment.”Its purpose is “enthrallment.”

William Wordsworth describes it as William Wordsworth describes it as “the spontaneous overflow of “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.”powerful feelings.”

Characteristics of PoetryCharacteristics of Poetry

A. RhythmA. Rhythm

1. Meter ( Organized Rhythm )1. Meter ( Organized Rhythm )

2. Rhyme and other “Sound Devices”2. Rhyme and other “Sound Devices”

B. ImageryB. Imagery

1. Figures of Speech1. Figures of Speech

2. Symbols2. Symbols

C. Sense or MeaningC. Sense or Meaning

A.RHYTHMA.RHYTHM

RhythmRhythm is the regular recurrence of is the regular recurrence of stressed and unstressed, long and stressed and unstressed, long and short, or high-pitched and low-short, or high-pitched and low-pitched syllables creating a pattern pitched syllables creating a pattern in the lines of a poem.in the lines of a poem.

This gives the poem its melodious This gives the poem its melodious quality and makes it grand, solemn quality and makes it grand, solemn and majestic; sonorous and full; slow and majestic; sonorous and full; slow and mournful; rapid and light, etc.and mournful; rapid and light, etc.

1. Meter ( Organized Rhythm )1. Meter ( Organized Rhythm )

Meter is the measured pattern or Meter is the measured pattern or grouping of syllables, called metric grouping of syllables, called metric foot, according to accent and length.foot, according to accent and length.

A group of metric feet forms a poetic A group of metric feet forms a poetic line or verse.line or verse.

A group of poetic lines or verses is A group of poetic lines or verses is called stanza.called stanza.

According to the placement of According to the placement of accent, there is a variety of accent, there is a variety of

patterns or feet of which the four patterns or feet of which the four basics are.basics are.

The Iamb ( Iambic foot )The Iamb ( Iambic foot ) The Anapest ( Anapestic foot )The Anapest ( Anapestic foot ) The Trochus ( Trochaic foot )The Trochus ( Trochaic foot ) The Dactyl ( Dactylic foot )The Dactyl ( Dactylic foot )

a. IAMBa. IAMB

The Iambic foot consists of an The Iambic foot consists of an unaccented syllable followed by an unaccented syllable followed by an accented syllable ( X / )accented syllable ( X / )

Ex.Ex. x / x / x / x / x /x / x / x / x / x /The curfew tolls the knell of parting day.The curfew tolls the knell of parting day.

-Gray,-Gray,““Elegy in a Country Churchyard”Elegy in a Country Churchyard”

b. Anapestb. Anapest

The Anapestic foot consists of two The Anapestic foot consists of two unaccented syllables followed by an unaccented syllables followed by an accented syllable. ( X X / )accented syllable. ( X X / )

Ex.Ex.

x x / x x /x x / x x /

Did you fall in the race?Did you fall in the race?

x x / x x /x x / x x /

Did you faint in the spurtDid you faint in the spurt

-Robins, “The Best”-Robins, “The Best”

c. Trochusc. Trochus

The Trochaic foot consists of an accented The Trochaic foot consists of an accented syllable followed by an unaccented syllable. syllable followed by an unaccented syllable. ( / x )( / x )

Ex.Ex.

/ x / x / x/ x / x / x

Up the airy mountainUp the airy mountain

/ x / x // x / x /

Down the rushy glenDown the rushy glen

-Allingham, “The Fairies”-Allingham, “The Fairies”

d. Dactyld. Dactyl

The Dactylic foot consists of an The Dactylic foot consists of an accented syllable followed by two accented syllable followed by two unaccented syllables. ( / x x )unaccented syllables. ( / x x )

Ex.Ex. / x x / x x / x x / x x / x x / x/ x x / x x / x x / x x / x x / x

This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlocks.This is the forest primeval, the murmuring pines and the hemlocks.

-Longfellow, “Evangeline” -Longfellow, “Evangeline”

According to the number of feet in a According to the number of feet in a poetic line, the principal verse poetic line, the principal verse lengths are: monometer, dimeter, lengths are: monometer, dimeter, trimeter, tetrameter, pentameter, trimeter, tetrameter, pentameter, hexameter, heptameter, octameter, hexameter, heptameter, octameter, and nonameter.and nonameter.

Scansion is the system by which a Scansion is the system by which a poem is described according to its poem is described according to its metrical structure by identifying its metrical structure by identifying its accents and verse lengths.accents and verse lengths.

Free verse is the natural flow of Free verse is the natural flow of cadenced rhythms as created by the cadenced rhythms as created by the poetpoet

Blank verse is unrhymed verseBlank verse is unrhymed verse

2. Rhyme and other “sound 2. Rhyme and other “sound devices”devices”

Rhyme is the regular recurrence of Rhyme is the regular recurrence of similar sounds usually at the end of similar sounds usually at the end of lines or also within one line. lines or also within one line.

The pattern or sequence in which the The pattern or sequence in which the rhyme words occur in a stanza or poem rhyme words occur in a stanza or poem is called the is called the rhyme schemerhyme scheme..

To find the rhyme scheme, the same To find the rhyme scheme, the same letter of the alphabet is usually assigned letter of the alphabet is usually assigned to each similar sound in a stanza.to each similar sound in a stanza.

B. ImageryB. Imagery

Imagery refers to expressions Imagery refers to expressions evocative of objects of sensuous evocative of objects of sensuous appeal. It may be in the form of appeal. It may be in the form of direct description or may be direct description or may be figurative, which latter involves the figurative, which latter involves the use of figures of speech and symbols.use of figures of speech and symbols.

C. Sense or MeaningC. Sense or Meaning

A poem must say something.A poem must say something. It must enlighten, reveal a truth, It must enlighten, reveal a truth,

open new vistas, give new open new vistas, give new perceptions, enable to understand perceptions, enable to understand the world around us more deeply, the world around us more deeply, and see things beyond the physical and see things beyond the physical senses.senses.

How do we try to understand a How do we try to understand a poem?poem?

When reading a poem, it would help When reading a poem, it would help much to look up the meaning of much to look up the meaning of unfamiliar words; to keep in mind unfamiliar words; to keep in mind that a poem is never purely literal; that a poem is never purely literal; and to remember that the poet and to remember that the poet means and feels more than what he means and feels more than what he actually says. actually says.

Imagine yourself in the situation of Imagine yourself in the situation of the poet and try to see and feel as he the poet and try to see and feel as he does, give free rein to your does, give free rein to your imagination and feelings, and use all imagination and feelings, and use all of your life experience to enlighten of your life experience to enlighten you so that the poem can acquire you so that the poem can acquire meaning for you.meaning for you.

Kinds of PoetryKinds of Poetry

1. Lyric 1. Lyric

2. Narrative2. Narrative

3. Dramatic3. Dramatic

Lyric PoetryLyric Poetry

It is the “utterance of the human It is the “utterance of the human heart in poetic form.” It is described heart in poetic form.” It is described as “brief and subjective, marked by as “brief and subjective, marked by imagination, melody and emotion, imagination, melody and emotion, and creating a single unified and creating a single unified expression expression

Popular types of lyric poetry:Popular types of lyric poetry:

1. Simple lyric1. Simple lyric 2. Song2. Song 3. Sonnet3. Sonnet 4. Elegy4. Elegy 5. Ode5. Ode

Simple lyric includes those lyrical Simple lyric includes those lyrical poems that do not properly belong poems that do not properly belong under any of the other types of lyrics. under any of the other types of lyrics.

Song is a short lyric poem which has Song is a short lyric poem which has a particularly melodious quality and a particularly melodious quality and is intended primarily to be sung, or is intended primarily to be sung, or can easily be set to music.can easily be set to music.

Sonnet is a lyric of fourteen lines with a Sonnet is a lyric of fourteen lines with a formal rhyme scheme or pattern.formal rhyme scheme or pattern.

Types:Types:

Italian or Petrarchan, named after Italian or Petrarchan, named after Italian poet Francesco Petrarch, consists of Italian poet Francesco Petrarch, consists of an octave which develops the theme, an octave which develops the theme, followed by a sextet which recapitulates followed by a sextet which recapitulates the idea. The octave has a rhyme scheme the idea. The octave has a rhyme scheme of abba abba and the sextet, cde cde or of abba abba and the sextet, cde cde or cdcdcd, or some other combination.cdcdcd, or some other combination.

Sonnet 5Sonnet 5(Francesco Petrarch)(Francesco Petrarch)

I find no peace, and all my war is done;I find no peace, and all my war is done;I fear and hope, I burn and freeze likewise;I fear and hope, I burn and freeze likewise;

I fly above the wind, yet cannot rise;I fly above the wind, yet cannot rise;And nought I have, yet all the world I seize on;And nought I have, yet all the world I seize on;

That looseth, nor locketh, holdeth me in prison, That looseth, nor locketh, holdeth me in prison, And holds me not, yet can I’scape no wise;And holds me not, yet can I’scape no wise;

Nor lets me live, nor die, at my devise.Nor lets me live, nor die, at my devise.And yet of death it giveth none occasion. And yet of death it giveth none occasion.

Without eyes I see, and without tongue I plain:Without eyes I see, and without tongue I plain:I wish to perish, yet I ask for health;I wish to perish, yet I ask for health;I love another, and yet I hate myself;I love another, and yet I hate myself;

I feed in sorrow, and laugh in all my pain;I feed in sorrow, and laugh in all my pain;Lo, thus displeaseth me both death and life, Lo, thus displeaseth me both death and life,

And my delight is causer of my grief.And my delight is causer of my grief.

English, Elizabethan or English, Elizabethan or Shakespearean Sonnet, named after Shakespearean Sonnet, named after William Shakespeare and Queen William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I, is divided into three Elizabeth I, is divided into three quatrains plus a couplet with a quatrains plus a couplet with a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg. rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg. The idea is developed in the three The idea is developed in the three quatrains, and is summarized and quatrains, and is summarized and reinforced in the closing couplet.reinforced in the closing couplet.

Sonnet XXIXSonnet XXIX(William Shakespeare)(William Shakespeare)

When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes, When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state.I all alone beweep my outcast state.

And trouble deaf Heaven with my bootless cries And trouble deaf Heaven with my bootless cries And look upon myself, and curse my fate.And look upon myself, and curse my fate.Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

Featur’d like him, like him with friends possest,Featur’d like him, like him with friends possest,Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scopeDesiring this man’s art and that man’s scope

With what I most enjoy contented least;With what I most enjoy contented least;Yet in these thoughts myself almost despisingYet in these thoughts myself almost despising

Haply I think on thee, and then my stateHaply I think on thee, and then my state(Like to the lark at break of day arising(Like to the lark at break of day arising

From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;For thy sweet love remembered such wealth bringsFor thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings

That then I scorn to change my state with kings.That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Spenserian Sonnet, named after Spenserian Sonnet, named after the English poet Edmund Spenser, is the English poet Edmund Spenser, is divided into three quatrains and a divided into three quatrains and a closing couplet with a rhyme scheme closing couplet with a rhyme scheme of abab bcbc cdcd ee.of abab bcbc cdcd ee.

ElegyElegy is a lamentation or an is a lamentation or an expression of mourning for the dead. expression of mourning for the dead. By its very nature, the poem’s mood By its very nature, the poem’s mood is solemn and sorrowful, yet it is solemn and sorrowful, yet it usually contains suggestions of hope usually contains suggestions of hope and faith to allay the sorrow.and faith to allay the sorrow.

Ode Ode is the most majestic type of is the most majestic type of lyric poetry. It is exalted in tone and lyric poetry. It is exalted in tone and expresses lofty praise for some expresses lofty praise for some person, event, object or idea. It is person, event, object or idea. It is elaborately designed and is formal in elaborately designed and is formal in structure and content.structure and content.

Narrative PoetryNarrative Poetry

It tells a story following a chronology It tells a story following a chronology of events. of events.

Types:Types:

1. Ballad is a short simple narrative 1. Ballad is a short simple narrative poem composed to be sung, and poem composed to be sung, and altered as it was orally transmitted altered as it was orally transmitted from generation to generation until it from generation to generation until it was written down much later.was written down much later.

2. Metrical Tale relates real or 2. Metrical Tale relates real or imaginary events in simple straight imaginary events in simple straight forward language. It can choose forward language. It can choose from a wide range of subjects, from a wide range of subjects, characters, life experiences, characters, life experiences, emotional situations, and may emotional situations, and may project a mood that is serious or project a mood that is serious or light. It is usually concerned with light. It is usually concerned with ordinary events.ordinary events.

3. Metrical Romance is a long 3. Metrical Romance is a long rambling love story in verse revolving rambling love story in verse revolving around the adventures of knights and around the adventures of knights and lords and their highborn ladies during the lords and their highborn ladies during the age of chivalry. Heavily flavored with age of chivalry. Heavily flavored with romance, fantastic events, supernatural romance, fantastic events, supernatural occurrences, magic and the ideals of the occurrences, magic and the ideals of the medieval period such as honor, truth, medieval period such as honor, truth, courage, justice, and reverence for courage, justice, and reverence for woman, the story is often rich in allegory woman, the story is often rich in allegory and permits a great play of fancy and the and permits a great play of fancy and the conflict between the forces of good and of conflict between the forces of good and of evil.evil.

4. 4. EpicEpic is a long majestic is a long majestic narrative poem which tells of the narrative poem which tells of the exploits of a traditional hero and the exploits of a traditional hero and the development of a nation.development of a nation.

Characteristics of an epic:Characteristics of an epic:

-the story is broad in scope and -the story is broad in scope and theme; its subject matter is often a theme; its subject matter is often a mixture of legend, history, myth, mixture of legend, history, myth, religion, and traditionreligion, and tradition

-the action is grand and on a huge -the action is grand and on a huge scale, the supernatural element is scale, the supernatural element is highly pronounced and the highly pronounced and the characters are larger-than-life (gods, characters are larger-than-life (gods, demi-gods and highborn mortals)demi-gods and highborn mortals)

-the source of conflict involves -the source of conflict involves elemental passions; the events elemental passions; the events center on a prodigious struggle or center on a prodigious struggle or effort to achieve a great purpose or effort to achieve a great purpose or carry out a great task against carry out a great task against powerful forcespowerful forces

-the plot consists of numerous -the plot consists of numerous episodes and sub-plots peopled by episodes and sub-plots peopled by numerous charactersnumerous characters

-the plot often begins in media res -the plot often begins in media res and the story is completed by a and the story is completed by a series of flashbacksseries of flashbacks

-the style is solemn and majestic in -the style is solemn and majestic in keeping with the grandeur of the keeping with the grandeur of the subject mattersubject matter

Dramatic PoetryDramatic Poetry

It has elements that closely relate it It has elements that closely relate it to drama, either because it is written to drama, either because it is written in some kind of dramatic form, or in some kind of dramatic form, or uses a dramatic technique. It may uses a dramatic technique. It may also suggest a story, but there is also suggest a story, but there is more emphasis on character rather more emphasis on character rather than on the narrative.than on the narrative.

Forms of dramatic poetry:Forms of dramatic poetry:

--Dramatic MonologueDramatic Monologue presents the presents the speech of a single character who speech of a single character who addresses one or more persons who addresses one or more persons who are present and who are listening to are present and who are listening to the speaker, but remain silent.the speaker, but remain silent.

--SoliloquySoliloquy is a passage spoken by a is a passage spoken by a speaker in a poem or by a character speaker in a poem or by a character in a play, except that there is no one in a play, except that there is no one present to hear him.present to hear him.

--Character SketchCharacter Sketch is a poem in is a poem in which “ the writer is concerned less which “ the writer is concerned less with matters of story, complete or with matters of story, complete or implied, than he is with arousing implied, than he is with arousing sympathy, antagonism, or merely sympathy, antagonism, or merely interest for an individual.”interest for an individual.”