Intro lectpt 2

Course Title: Poetry
Course Code & NO.: LANE 447
Course Credit Hrs.: 3 weekly
Level: 7th Level Students

Introductory Lecture
Pt. 2
Poetic Structure, Forms & Genres
A note on Scansion
Instructor: Dr. Noora Al-Malki
Credits of images and online content are to their original owners.

This Presentation
• is divided into three sections (Pt. 1, Pt. 2, and Pt.
3), each dealing with a distinct topic.
• sums up the main points to be discussed in the
course’s introductory lecture.
• introduces main concepts related to the meaning
of poetry, poetry types and forms, elements of a
poem…etc.
• encourages students to read further about
English poetry in the listed references and
websites.
Dr. Noora Al-Malki 2012
2
eaglenoora@yahoo.com

Poetry VS. Prose
Overall, prose and poetry differ in the
following aspects:
1. Poetry is more rhythmical, formal and
metered in terms of structure compared to
the more ordinary prose.
2. Poetry is more expressive and attractive
as opposed to the usual dull quality of
prose.
3. Lines are considered to be the basic
units of poetry, whereas sentences fill the
exact same role in the case of prose.
4. Generally, poetry often has some
rhymes and relationships between its
words as opposed to their absence in
prose.
http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-poetry-and-prose/
3

Poetic Structure
The main structural elements in
a poem include: the line,
couplet, strophe and stanza.

Poets combine the use of
language and a specific
structure to create imaginative
and expressive works.

Abondolo, Daniel (2001). A poetics handbook: verbal art in the European tradition. Curzon. pp. 52–53.

4

Poetic Forms

Poetry as Form:
Ancient philosophers tried to
decide on what makes poetry
distinctive as a form, and what
distinguishes good poetry from
bad. This led to the emergence
of "poetics"—the study of the
aesthetics of poetry.

5

Poetic Forms


6

Poetic Forms
The Bedford Online Glossary defines
closed form, or "fixed form" poetry as
follows:
[Closed or fixed form poems are those] that
may be categorized by the pattern of its
lines, meter, rhythm, or stanzas. A sonnet
is a fixed form of poetry because by
definition it must have fourteen lines. Other
fixed forms include limerick, sestina, and
villanelle. However, poems written in a
fixed form may not always fit into
categories precisely, because writers
sometimes vary traditional forms to create
innovative effects.

7

Poetic Forms
What distinguishes closed form poems is
that they develop regular patterns with
regard to lines, meter, rhythm and stanza.
When we discuss a poem's structure, we're
observing its pattern of lines and stanzas.

Examples of Fixed Verse Forms can be
found here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_verse

8

Poetic Forms
A stanza consists of a grouping of two or
more lines, set off by a space, that usually
has a set pattern of meter and rhyme. The
stanza in poetry is synonymous with the
paragraph that is seen in prose, related
thoughts are grouped into units.

Kirszner & Mandell. Literature Reading, Writing, Reacting. Ch. 18,pg. 716.

9

Poetic Forms
In traditional English-language poems,
stanzas can be identified and grouped
together because they share a rhyme
scheme or a fixed number of lines (as in
distich/couplet, tercet, quatrain,
cinquain/quintain, sestet). In much modern
poetry, stanzas may be arbitrarily
presented on the printed page because of
publishing conventions that employ such
features as white space or punctuation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanza

10

Poetic Forms
The Bedford Online Glossary defines
"free verse" poetry as follows:
“Sometimes called "free verse," open form
poetry does not conform to established
patterns of meter, rhyme, and stanza. Such
poetry derives its rhythmic qualities from
the repetition of words, phrases, or
grammatical structures, the arrangement of
words on the printed page, or by some
other means. The poet E. E. Cummings
wrote open form poetry; his poems do not
have measurable meters, but they do have
rhythm.”

11

Poetic Forms
What distinguishes open form poems “free
Verse” is that they do not develop regular
patterns with regard to lines, meter, rhythm
and stanza. Their structure is more
"organic" instead of being predetermined,
following its own inner logic according to
the emotion or thought expressed.

12

Poetic Genres

Poetry uses forms and
conventions to suggest
differential interpretation to
words, or to evoke emotive
responses (mode). The
result is distinct genres or
sub-genres of poetry.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetry

13

Poetic Genres

Aristotle's Poetics describes
three genres of poetry—the
epic, the comic, and the tragic
—and develop rules to
distinguish the highest-quality
poetry in each genre, based on
the underlying purposes of the
genre.
Heath, Malcolm, ed. (1997). Aristotle's Poetics. Penguin Books

14

Poetic Genres

Mainly, there are three major types of
poetry:

1-Dramatic poetry
2-Lyric poetry
3-Narrative poetry

However, each of these major types
includes various poetic forms.


15

Poetic Forms

Dramatic poetry uses the elements of
drama. One or more characters speak
to other characters, to themselves, or
directly address the reader. This type
of poetry often includes emotional
conflict.


16

Poetic Forms

Lyric poetry expresses the thoughts
and emotions of a single speaker.
Usually short, a lyric poem creates a
single, unified impression.

Lyric poetry, on the other hand, may
tell about events, but the focus is on
creating a mood or recalling a feeling.
Lyric poems express the character,
impressions and emotions of the poet,
and are usually short.

17

Poetic Forms

Narrative poetry tells a story in verse
form. A narrative poem has a
beginning, a middle, and an ending,
just like a prose story. Unlike prose,
however, a narrative poem is much
more concentrated.

Narrative poetry tells a story. It combines
poetic techniques, such as rhyme and
alliteration, with the elements of fiction,
such as characters and a recognizable
plot.
.
18

A Note on Scansion

Scansion: Putting It All Together
The analysis of the patterns of rhythm in poetry is known as
scansion
(i.e. to "scan"). When you are asked to scan a poem, follow these
steps:
1. Determine the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in
the poem.
2. Draw a line separating each foot, then count the number of
feet per line.
3. Using the information from steps 1 and 2, name the type of
metre for the poem (e.g. tetrametre).
. Dr. Noora Al-Malki 2012
19

A Note on Scansion
Have a look at the example below, which is from Thomas Gray's
"Elegy
Written in a Country Churchyard." The first stanza of the poem has
been written for you so you can see its metre and foot pattern.
U / u / u / u / u /
The cur / few tolls / the knell / of par / ting day
U / u / u / u / u /
The low / ing herd / wind slow / ly o'er / the lea,

As this poem follows a pattern of one unstressed syllable and one
stressed syllable, the name of the metre is iambic.

20

Extra material to check out

http://structureandsurprise.wordpress.
com/pedagogy/poetic-structures-
summarized/

http://www.types-of-poetry.org.uk/

http://highered.mcgraw-
hill.com/sites/0072405228/student_vie
w0/poetic_glossary.html

21

Intro lectpt 2

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