REVIEW ON THE GENRE OF POETRY

A poem is a composition that uses words to evoke emotions in an imaginative way. Although poetry is a form of self-
expression that knows no bounds, it can be safely divided into three main genres lyric poetry, narrative poetry and dramatic
poetry.
1. Lyric poetry uses song-like and emotional words to describe a moment, an object, a feeling, or a person.
 elegy - a reflective poem to honor the dead.
 haiku - a seventeen-syllable poem that uses natural imagery to express an emotion
 ode - an elevated poem that pays tribute to a person, idea, place, or another concept
 sonnet - a descriptive fourteen-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme
 Sonnets fall into two types:
 the Italian, or Petrarchan sonnet
 the English, or Shakespearian sonnet

2. A narrative poem tells a story. Also known as epic poetry, narrative poetry is often set to music as ballads. Narrative
poems are usually of human interest and include epics, or long stories.
Examples of poetry in this category include:
 allegory - a narrative poem that uses an extended metaphor to make a point
 ballad - narrative poetry set to music
 burlesque - a mock-epic poem that tells an ordinary story in a melodramatic way
 epic - a lengthy poem that tells a story of heroic adventures
Homer's The Odyssey is one of the oldest and most famous epic poems. The epic is an example of poetry that tells a
story through poetic language. It tells the story of heroic (but cursed) Odysseus and his crew as they battle monsters, outwit
witches and make their way home to his waiting wife.

3. Dramatic poetry, also known as dramatic monologue, is meant to be spoken or acted. Similar to narrative poetry,
dramatic poetry tells a story.
 monologue - a speech given by one character to another, or by one character to the audience (also known as dramatic
verse when not in poetic form).
 soliloquy - a speech given by one character to himself or herself, a dramatic representation of inner monologue.
 William Shakespeare
 Ben Jonson
 Christopher Marlowe
 Rudyard Kipling

LITERARY DEVICES IN POEMS

Literary/Poetic device is a technique a writer uses to produce a special effect on their writing. Some common poetic devices
include:
 Rhyme: The repetition of similar or identical sounds at the end of two or more words in a line of poetry.
 Meter: The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry, which creates a rhythmic structure.
 Alliteration: The repetition of the same sound at the beginning of two or more words in a line of poetry.
 Repetition: The repetition of a word or phrase for emphasis or to create a sense of unity in a poem.
 Imagery: The use of descriptive language to create vivid mental images in the reader’s mind.
 Personification: The attribution of human qualities or characteristics to non-human things or abstract concepts.
 Simile: A comparison of two unlike things using the words “like” or “as.”
 Metaphor: A comparison of two unlike things without using the words “like” or “as.”

FUN POETRY
Fun poetry encompasses a variety of poetic forms and styles that are designed to entertain and amuse readers or listeners.
 Riddles: Riddles are a form of wordplay that challenge the reader or listener to solve a mystery or puzzle.
 Limericks: Limericks are short, humorous poems with a specific rhyme scheme (AABBA) and a bouncy, rhythmic
meter.
Haikus: Haikus are a form of Japanese poetry consisting of three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable pattern. While they can
cover a wide range of topics, they often focus on nature and the changing seasons.