FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION

Poetry and Structure

Form Follows Function

What do you think this saying means?

Can you think of examples in life where the form of something is closely tied to its function?

Guggenheim Museum

Martha Graham

Toilet Paper

Poetry

Narrative Poetry

Narrative poetry is determined by content and to a degree form.

It must tell a story.So, it must contain narrative elements like

Setting Characters Plot Theme These elements follow the structure of a story.

There are different types of narrative poems…

Epic Poetry is an extended narrative poem recounting actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes and is written in high style.

Epic Poems

Protagonist is heroically larger than lifeDeeds of the hero are presented without

favoritism, revealing flaws as well as virtuesAction, often in battle, reveals the more-than-

human strength of heroesSetting covers several nations, the whole

world, or even the universeAll of the adventures form a whole, where

each event relates to the central theme

Narrative Poetry

Ballad is a type of poetry which was basically used in dance songs in ancient France.

Distinguishing Features include Simple, easy-to-understand language Stories about hardships, tragedies, love, and

romance Recurrence of certain lines at regular

intervals Seldom offers a direct message about an

event, character, or situation (the audience must deduce the moral)

Lyric Poetry

• Lyric poetry consists of poems that express the thoughts and feelings of the poet.

• Lyric poetry does NOT tell a story which portrays characters and actions.

• The lyric poet addresses the reader directly, portraying his/her own feeling, state of mind, and perceptions.

Types of Lyric Poetry

Ode- comes from the Greek aeidein, meaning to sing or chant.

It can be generalized as a formal address to an event, a person, or a thing not present.

Different types of odes have different structures associated with them.

Sonnet

You show two related but differing things to the reader in order to communicate something about them.

Each of the three major types of sonnets accomplishes this in a somewhat different way.

There are, of course, other types of sonnets, as well, but the basic three are Italian, Spenserian, English.

All Sonnets

Have fourteen linesFollow a strict rhyme scheme

Example