Poetry Types | Different types of poetry | Poetry Glossary

It's easy to be intimidated by poetry, especially if you don't think you're as well-versed as others. The universe of poetry, on the other hand, is wide and diversified! Without without realising it, you've undoubtedly come across a variety of various styles of poetry types!

So, whether you want to attempt composing your own poetry or just learn more about the Different types of poetry, we've compiled a selection of our favourites to help you get started.

Different Types of Poetry:

Poetry Types
Poetry Types

1) Haiku Poetry

Haiku (or hokku) is an ancient form of Japanese poetry that has gained worldwide popularity. Haikus are known for their compact size, with only three lines (tercet); the first and third lines contain five syllables each, while the second has seven. Haikus don't have to rhyme, and they're typically created to convey a specific mood or situation. As a result, you may have a great time with them! You may have written or will write your own haiku at some time in school, or you might be more creative and attempt it at home.

2) Free verse Poetry

Free verse is a popular form of modern poetry, and as the name implies, it allows you a lot of creative licence while creating a poem like this. Free verse can rhyme or not, contain as many lines or stanzas as the poet desires, and be about whatever the poet desires! While free verse appears to be a simple type of poetry, the absence of restrictions makes it difficult to perfect!

3)  Sonnet  Poetry

Although William Shakespeare made this ancient style of poetry popular, the sonnet really originated in 13th century Italy, where it was refined by poet Petrarch. The word'sonnet' comes from the Italian word'sonnetto,' which literally means 'small song.' Sonnets are traditionally made up of 14 lines and are about love. Petrarchan (Italian) sonnets usually rhyme ABBA ABBA CDE CDE, but Shakespearean (English) sonnets usually rhyme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. Rules, on the other hand, are designed to be violated!

4) Acrostic Poetry

Acrostic poems, like haikus, are frequently seen in school. That isn't to say they're uninteresting - far from it! With the initial letter of each line of the poem, this style of poetry spells out a name, word, phrase, or message. It can rhyme or not, and the word spelled out usually establishes the poem's topic. Try it with the stupidest term you can think of — it's a lot of fun!

5) Villanelle Poetry

The villanelle is a very old form of poetry that originated in France and is governed by a set of rules. It has 19 lines, with five stanzas of three lines each (tercet) and a concluding stanza of four lines (quatrain). This sort of poetry only contains two rhyming sounds, as you can see from the rhyme scheme: ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA ABAA  In addition, the villanelle has a lot of repetition. Lines six, twelve, and eighteen will be repeated, while lines nine, fifteen, and nineteen will be repeated. So, while this eliminates the extra labour of writing 19 separate lines, the true problem is deciphering the meaning of those repeated lines!

6) Limerick Poetry

Limericks are humorous (and even nasty!) poetry popularised by Edward Lear in the nineteenth century. They follow the AABBA rhyme system, with lines one, two, and five being longer than lines three and four. The punchline is usually the last line. They have a unique sound, and chances are you've heard or read one before!

7) Ode Poetry

The ode, one of the earliest genres of poetry, is said to have originated in ancient Greece. Yes, that was a long time ago! The word 'ode' is derived from the Greek word 'aeidein,' which means 'to sing or chant,' and these poems were originally performed to music. An ode is a brief poem meant to celebrate a person, event, or item (you might write an ode to your pet or favourite cuisine!).

8) Elegy Poetry

An elegy, unlike other genres of poetry, does not have rules, but it does have a specific subject: death - eek! They are typically written about a deceased loved one, but they may also be written about a group of individuals. Despite the fact that they might seem depressing, elegies frequently conclude on a positive note, hurrah!

9) Ballad Poetry

Another historic and traditional type of poetry is the ballad, which usually conveys a dramatic or emotional narrative. They originated in Europe during the late Middle Ages and were passed down from generation to generation, frequently with music. Ballads do have a defined form; they are usually four lines long (quatrains) and rhyme in the ABAB or ABCB pattern. This form, however, is more flexible than others and may be tailored to the demands of a writer (that's you!). The majority of today's mainstream songs may be classified as ballads!

Poetry Glossary | Poetry of Glossary Terms:

This Poetry glossary of poetic words includes literary devices, poetic forms and approaches, schools and movements, and more.
Poetry Glossary
Poetry Glossary

Many of these short definitions lead to a lengthier website with a more thorough description, examples of poetry, essays, and other resources. A Petry Glossary by Edward Hirsch is the source for many of these definitions.

1) Stanza: A stanza is a grouping of lines in poetry that are related by length, metre, or rhyme scheme.

2) Couplet: A two-line stanza is known as a couplet.

3) Tercet: A three-line stanza is known as a tercet.

4) Quatrain: A four-line stanza is known as a quatrain.

5) Cinquain: Cinquain refers to a stanza of five lines.

6) Sestet: A six-line stanza is known as a sestet.

7) Metre: In poetry, metre refers to the pattern of stressed (long-sounding) and unstressed (short-sounding) syllables.

8) Rhyme Scheme: The pattern of rhyme that appears at the conclusion of each line or stanza is known as the rhyme scheme.

9) Syllable: The single, continuous sound of a spoken or written word is referred to as a syllable.

No comments