Poetry Theory Flashcards
What is the four main classes of poetry?
Narrative, Lyrical, Dramatic, Social commentary
What is the Narrative poetry class?
Tells about people involved in a sequence of important events, contains characters, settings, and plots. They are based on a conflict and lead up to a climax
What are Ballads?
A form of verse, adapted for singing or recitation which presents a story often about a tragic event, popular legend, courageous act, or great love
What are the two main types of ballads?
Traditional/Popular/ Folk and Modern/Literary/Art
What is the Traditional/Popular/ Folk ballad?
-Belong to early periods before much was written
-One of the earliest forms of folk literature
-Usually several variations
-Usually anonymous, because it was passed on from generation to generation
-Strong rhythm
-Usually has repetition
-Usually sung
-Simple rhyme scheme
-Often tragic
What is the Modern/Literary/Art ballad?
-Name of author is given
-Composed by a person who considers himself/herself to be a poet
-Highly polished, artistic, and detailed
-Literary devices carefully chosen
-Not much repetition
-Not composed to be sung
What is a epic?
Long, serious, narrative poem recounting the deeds of heroic figures from legends or history
What is the Lyrical poetry class?
-Most popular class
-Poet expresses his desires, feelings, emotions, or ideals
-May be a joyful emotion or a painful emotion
What is short lyrical poetry?
-Includes formula poetry
-The Epigram- brief, witty statement expressed in two to four lines
-The Epitaph- a two to four line poetic inscription on a tombstone
-Other nonsensical or humorous poetry
What is longer lyrical poetry?
-The Elegy- a dignified poem expressing the poet’s sorrow or praise for the dead
-The Ode- entire poem is often addressed to some person, creature, or object; it has a serious subject and a dignified style
What is the Sonnet?
-14 lines
-Written in Iambic pentametre
-Has a complicated rhyme scheme
What is the two types of Sonnets?
Shakespeare or English sonnet, Petrarchan or Italian sonnet
What is the Shakespeare or English sonnet?
-Rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
-Stanza types: three quatrains (ABAB CDCD EFEF) and one rhyming couplet (GG)
What is the Petrarchan or Italian sonnet?
Rhyme scheme: ABBA ABBA CDECDE
-Stanza types: one octave (ABBA ABBA) and one sestet of (CDECDE)
What is the dramatic poetry class?
-intended to be read aloud or performed in front of an audience
-Usually revealed through monologue (one person speaking to the audience) or dialogue (two or more people speaking
-Main types: tragic, comedic, or dramatic monologues
What is the Social Commentary poetry class?
-Comments on society’s social habits, customs, attitudes, and problems to promote much needed changes in the individual or in society
What is a prose?
-Spoken or written words which do not follow a specific metrical pattern
-Written words appear in sentence or paragraph form
What is a verse?
-Poem
-Typically written in metrical pattern
What is a simile?
A comparison of two different things using “Like” or “As”
What is a metephor?
A comparison of two different things without the use of “Like” or “As”
What is a onomatopoeia?
The use of a word whose sound imitates, suggests, and reinforces its meaning
What is a personification?
Giving something non-human human characteristics
What is a hyperbole?
An extreme exaggeration used for effect
What is a alliteration?
The repetition of the same consonant or vowed sound at the start of words
