Exploring Types of Poetry *Words in bold are defined in the glossary at the end of the unit. Introduction Poetry is a special kind of writing that uses the sound and rhythm of words to tell a story and to make the reader feel a certain way. These feelings are created through setting, mood, and tone. Setting is the time and place in which a story or poem takes place. Mood and tone have to do with how the poem makes you feel. It could be a funny, silly poem or a dark, sad one. Sometimes, poems rhyme, but sometimes they don t. Sometimes, poems follow specific rules, like how many words are in each line, but not always. Some poems have several stanzas or sections, and others don t. Some poems have a specific number of syllables in each line, but some poems have no rules at all. One of the best things about poetry is that there are so many kinds of poems. You can choose the type that works best for what you are writing about and how you feel. You can even create your own kind of poem. Types of Poetry Here are some different types of poems with examples of each one. Alphabet Alphabet poems have twenty-six lines, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. They are written about one theme. Sometimes they rhyme, but they don t have to. Here is an example of an alphabet poem: Airplanes, airplanes go Back and forth Covering the landscape of our Dear planet Earth Flying high above the Ground to soaring new Heights In all types of weather Just perfect or a Kind of cloudy night Lifting its wings Moving through the air Nice and peaceful Over our heads Pilots bring us Quickly to our destinations
Rome, Japan, and other Special places Traveling is my Ultimate favorite activity Vanishing off to a new place Wishing I could fly every day X marks the spot I will go Yelling with excitement Zipping across the country Cinquain A cinquain is a five-line poem (like cinco for five in Spanish). The first line is one word, usually a noun, which is the main subject of the poem. The second line contains two adjectives that describe the topic. The third line has three verbs that relate to the topic. The fourth line has four words that can be a phrase or sentence telling something about the topic. The fifth line is a single word that is another word for the topic. Here is an example of a cinquain: Clowns Silly, funny Running, jumping, laughing They make the circus so much fun Performers Diamante A diamante is similar to a cinquain, but it has seven lines. Diamante poems have the shape of a diamond. The first line is one noun. The second line is two adjectives. The third line has three participles (-ing verbs). The fourth line has four nouns. Then the pattern repeats the opposite direction. The fifth line has three participles (-ing verbs). The sixth line has two adjectives. The seventh line has one noun. Here is a diamante poem:
Definition A definition poem defines something using metaphors or imagery. This is special language that paints a picture for the reader. It is much more interesting than a regular dictionary definition. Definition poems generally use free verse (which means they have no regular rules for rhythm or meter). Here is an example of a definition poem: Dancing is beautiful movement Dancing is freedom It is a means of self-expression Dance brings out our emotions Dance is a form of communication It allows your heart to speak Dancing is poetry in motion Dancing is free Dancing is my life Catalog A catalog poem is a list of things. It can be any length and may rhyme or not. Here is an example of a catalog poem about spring: Spring Snow melting Air warming Trees coming to life Flowers budding Birds singing Baseball season starting Everything turning green My favorite time of year Acrostic An acrostic poem is a poem that is written around a word. The first letter of each line spells out that word. Here is an acrostic poem. What do the first letters spell? Buddies for life Every day Staying up late Talking on the phone for hours
Forever pals Rarely separated I am here for you Even when things are tough No matter what happens Dear friends we will remain Siblings in spirit Limerick A limerick is a silly or humorous poem that follows a specific pattern. Lines 1, 2, and 5 are longer and rhyme with each other. Lines 3 and 4 are shorter and rhyme with each other. Here is an example of a limerick: There once was a clown named Bo Who liked to put on a great show He drove a small car And he was a star He did tricks that made us say, Oh! Quatrain A quatrain is a four-line poem that rhymes. (Quatro means four in Spanish.) Each line is about the same length. The rhyming pattern may be that lines 1 and 2 rhyme and lines 3 and 4 rhyme, or lines 1 and 3 and lines 2 and 4 may rhyme. Here is a sample quatrain: Swimming is a lot of fun Hanging out all day in the sun Splashing around in the pool It s the best way to stay cool Haiku Haiku poetry comes from Japan. Haiku poems have three lines. They follow very specific rules. The first line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, and the third line has five syllables. Haiku poems do not rhyme. Often, the topic is related to nature or the seasons. Here is an example of a haiku: Autumn leaves falling Turning shades of red and brown Seasons are changing
Concrete A concrete poem is written in the actual shape of the subject of the poem. Here is a concrete poem. You can tell what it is about without even reading it! Poems for Two Voices A poem for two voices is written for two people to perform. Often, it is written in two columns with each person s part in a column. Here is a poem for two voices. Try reading it aloud with someone. I love it when it rains The raindrops and puddles, such a wonder Splashing about, wearing raingear I love to run around and get all wet You should really go outside and play I can t say the same What s so great about dark clouds and thunder Watching the lightning, hiding in fear I stay indoors and read a book I m content in my room; that s where I ll stay
Ballads A ballad is a narrative poem written in a rhythmic verse that may be sung. Ballads tell a story, often one that is dramatic or emotional. Ballads are often written in quatrains that have alternating rhymes and patterns of stressed syllables. Here is an excerpt from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a famous ballad: And now there came both mist and snow, And it grew wondrous cold: And ice, mast-high, came floating by, As green as emerald. And through the drifts the snowy clifts Did send a dismal sheen: Nor shapes of men nor beasts we ken The ice was all between. The ice was here, the ice was there, The ice was all around: It cracked and growled, and roared and howled, Like noises in a swound! Epic Poetry An epic poem is generally long and tells a story, often of a hero or a very significant event. Epic poetry is not typically sung. Famous epic poems include Homer s The Odyssey and Paradise Lost by John Milton. Lyric Poetry A lyric poem is generally short and expresses deep personal feelings. Lyric poems may be sung or accompanied by music, but may not. Lyrics often have a refrain or a line or lines that are repeated throughout the poem. Types of lyric poems include elegies, odes, and sonnets. Even haiku is a type of lyric. Elegy An elegy is a very sad poem, often expressing sorrow over someone who has died. Elegies are typically written in couplets that have a specific pattern of meter. This is a famous elegy written about Abraham Lincoln.
O Captain! My Captain! by Walt Whitman O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done; The ship has weather d every rack, the prize we sought is won; The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring: But O heart! heart! heart! O the bleeding drops of red, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead. O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells; Rise up for you the flag is flung for you the bugle trills; For you bouquets and ribbon d wreaths for you the shores a-crowding; For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning; Here Captain! dear father! This arm beneath your head; It is some dream that on the deck, You ve fallen cold and dead. My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still; My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will; The ship is anchor d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done; From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won; Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells! But I, with mournful tread, Walk the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold and dead. Ode An ode is a lyric poem with a complicated structure that praises a person or marks an important event. Odes are generally meant to be performed with music. Pindar was an ancient Greek who wrote great odes. Some of them were about the Olympic games. You can read a funny ode about a unicycle here. Sonnet A sonnet is a fixed verse lyric poem that has 14 lines. Sonnets are often about a thought or feeling and have a final line that summarizes the theme. There are different types of sonnets. The English sonnet has three quatrains and a final separately rhymed couplet. The most famous writer of sonnets is Shakespeare, who wrote over 150 sonnets. Robert Frost also wrote a number of sonnets.
Here are a few examples of sonnets. Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare Shall I compare thee to a summer s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer s lease hath all too short a date. Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimmed; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance, or nature s changing course, untrimmed; But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow st, Nor shall death brag thou wand rest in his shade, When in eternal lines to Time thou grow st. So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. Into My Own by Robert Frost One of my wishes is that those dark trees, So old and firm they scarcely show the breeze, Were not, as twere, the merest mask of gloom, But stretched away unto the edge of doom. I should not be withheld but that some day Into their vastness I should steal away, Fearless of ever finding open land, Or highway where the slow wheel pours the sand. I do not see why I should e er turn back, Or those should not set forth upon my track To overtake me, who should miss me here And long to know if still I held them dear. They would not find me changed from him they knew Only more sure of all I thought was true. Activities Here are some activities to try on your own. 1. Choose two types of poems and compare and contrast them. How are they similar? How are they different? Which do you like better? Why? 2. For each of the following topics, which type of poem might be most appropriate?
A flower A funny story A list of reasons you love to play baseball A discussion about what the best flavor of ice cream is 3. How do rhythm and rhyme affect the way a poem makes you feel? 4. Choose a type of poem and write your own poem in that format.
Glossary accent pattern the way in which certain words or syllables are stressed or said more loudly or emphatically acrostic poem a poem that is written around a word, usually the topic of the poem, such that the first letter of each line spells out that word alliteration the repetition of the first letter in several words used to give writing a poetic sound; example: The cat was slinking along in its slim, sleek manner alphabet poem has twenty-six lines, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet ballad a narrative poem that is often sung and has a dramatic or emotional theme catalog poem a poem that consists of a list or itemization of things or events cinquain a poem that has five lines and follows specific rules: the first line is one word that is the topic of the poem, the second line has two adjectives, the third line has three verbs, the fourth line has four words that are a sentence or phrase, and the fifth line has a single word that sums up the poem concrete poem a poem that is written in the physical shape of the subject couplet two lines of poetry that form a unit with rhythm or rhyme definition poem a free-verse poem that uses imagery to define something diamante a poem that has seven lines as follows: line 1 has one noun, line 2 has two adjectives, line 3 has three participles, line 4 has four nouns, line 5 has three participles, line 6 has two adjectives, and line 7 has one noun elegy a sad poem expressing sadness for someone who has died figurative language using metaphors and other words to mean more than their literal meaning free verse poetry that has no regular rhythm or meter haiku an unrhymed poem that has three lines with 5, 7, and 5 syllables each; this type of poetry comes from Japan, and the topic often relates to nature imagery the use of figurative language to paint a vivid picture limerick a humorous poem that has five lines lines 1, 2, and 5 have three feet (units of verse) and rhyme, and lines 3 and 4 have two feet and rhyme lyric poem a short poem that has a deeply personal theme metaphor a figure of speech that states two unlike things are the same in a figurative way (without using like or as ); example: She was the wind. mood emotions; feelings ode a lyric poem that praises a person or something important onomatopoeia the use of words that imitate or suggest a sound; example: hiss, buzz personification a description of something that is not a person as though it were a person; example: The stream made a happy, singing sound through the forest. quatrain a four-line verse or poem that rhymes rhyme words that end in the same sound but have a different beginning sound; examples: cat/hat, toy/joy rhythm tempo or beat setting the time and place in which a story takes place
simile a figure of speech comparing two unlike things using like or as ; example: She was as fast as the wind. sonnet a fixed verse poem that has fourteen lines and often is about a feeling or idea stanza a section of a poem with lines grouped together tone mood; quality or manner of expression This unit is based on Types of Poetry and Types of Poetry 2, published by K12 Handhelds, Inc., and used with permission.