Types of Poetry – Poetry and Drama Analysis
Poetry can be divided into two main categories:
1. Lyric Poetry → Short, emotional, and personal poems.
2. Narrative Poetry → Poems that tell a story.
Additionally, Descriptive and Didactic Poetry can be seen as subcategories.
I. Lyric Poetry
• Short, non-narrative poems expressing emotions or states of mind.
• Traditionally associated with song and music (e.g., accompanied by the lyre in Ancient
Greece).
• Main subcategories: Elegy, Ode, Sonnet, and Dramatic Monologue.
1. Elegy
• A formal lament for the dead.
• Can also be used for serious meditations on death.
2. Ode
• A long, formal lyric poem dealing with serious subjects in an elevated style.
3. Sonnet
• Originated in Italy, later became popular in England.
• Originally a love poem about the lover’s sufferings and hopes.
• Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet developed in the 14th century in Tuscany.
4. Dramatic Monologue
• A poem where a character (not the poet) speaks to a silent audience.
• Reveals aspects of the speaker’s personality.
• Example: Robert Browning’s My Last Duchess.
5. Occasional Poetry
• Written for specific events (e.g., weddings, coronations, funerals).
• Connects poetry to real-life events and public affairs.
II. Narrative Poetry
• Poetry that tells a story using characters and a plot.
• Always has a narrator, similar to prose storytelling.
• Main subcategories: Epic, Mock-Epic, and Ballad.
1. Epic Poetry
• Long narrative poems dealing with grand themes like nation-building or history.
• Examples:
o Virgil’s Aeneid → The founding of Rome.
o Milton’s Paradise Lost → The beginning of world history.
• Features: Elevated language, supernatural beings, large-scale events.
2. Mock-Epic
• Imitates the epic style but focuses on trivial subjects.
• Example: Alexander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock → A humorous take on a suitor cutting a
lady’s hair.
3. Ballad
• Originally an oral storytelling song.
• Became a major form of folk poetry in the 16th century.
• Examples:
o The Three Ravens (Anonymous).
o Annabel Lee (Edgar Allan Poe).
III. Descriptive and Didactic Poetry
1. Descriptive Poetry
• Found in both lyric and narrative poetry.
• Contains detailed imagery and descriptions.
2. Didactic Poetry
• Teaches a lesson or provides instructions.
• Example: Alexander Pope’s Essay on Criticism explains how to write good poetry.
• Until the 20th century, all literature was expected to have a didactic purpose (moral,
theoretical, or practical knowledge).
• Horace’s idea of poetry:
o Prodesse (to teach) + Delectare (to entertain).
• In the 20th century, literature became less focused on teaching.
IV. Conclusion
• Lyric poetry expresses emotions and personal experiences.
• Narrative poetry tells a story and can include epics, ballads, or mock-epics.
• Didactic poetry once played a major role but has declined in modern literature.
Key points for the exam:
Lyric Poetry: Know the types (Elegy, Ode, Sonnet, Dramatic Monologue).
Narrative Poetry: Understand Epics, Mock-Epics, and Ballads.
Descriptive & Didactic Poetry: Recognize their roles and historical changes.
General: Be aware of poetry’s connection to real-life events and its evolving role in literature.
