5 Types of Poetry

When you read literature, you are likely to come across many forms of poetry. The types of poetry include Haiku, Ballads, Sonnets, Palindromes, and Elegy. These different forms of poetry may not be familiar to you, but they all contain the same basic characteristics: a sense of rhythm, a sense of emotion, and a unique way of describing a scene or an emotion.

Sonnets

The sonnet is a fourteen-line poem written in iambic pentameter. Traditionally, it follows a specific rhyme scheme.

In addition to its traditional form, the sonnet can also have different variations. This has led to the creation of sonnets from different cultures and languages. One of the most common forms of sonnet is the Shakespearean.

Another type of sonnet is the Italian sonnet. Generally, Italian sonnets are about love and unrequited love. Petrarch, a 13th century poet, wrote a series of sonnets, which are now considered to be one of the greatest poems ever written.

In addition to the Shakespearean and Italian sonnets, the English sonnet is also a type of sonnet. It is composed of three quatrains rhyming ABAB CDCD EE. Edmund Spenser restructured the English sonnet by putting it in couplets.

Ballads

Ballads are a type of poetry that is usually sung. They typically consist of a few lines, but they can also be longer. Most ballads have an abrupt opening and an unexpected ending. It may also feature an element of humor or satire. The plot could be about a romantic love, an adventure, or a loss.

A ballad is usually written in four-line stanzas. Each stanza has a refrain. Refrains are a way to emphasize the main message of the song. When they first appeared, couplets were a popular structure for ballad lines. But nowadays, couplets aren’t used much.

Ballads are usually told by a third-person narrator who is separated from the events of the story by space. This makes the narrative easier to remember.

Elegy

The term “elegy” is used to describe a poem that laments the loss of a loved one. It can be written in either free verse or rhyming couplets.

Writing an elegy is a very difficult task. However, it can be done with the right approach. Writers should first brainstorm relevant memories. Next, they should try to describe the incident or event in as many different ways as possible.

The poem should also mention the subject’s positive attributes. Ideally, it should praise the deceased’s accomplishments, core values, and qualities. This helps make the poem more personal.

One of the most famous elegies is Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “In Memoriam.” This elegy is dedicated to the poet’s friend, Arthur Henry Hallam.

Haiku

It is a type of poetry written in three lines. Traditionally, haiku poems have focused on the natural world. However, today, some poets take on other themes. Whether you’re writing haiku or another kind of poetry, you’ll want to follow some common rules of writing.

First, the form of the poem should be smooth and well-written. The rhythm of the language is also important. This increases the pacing of the poem and enhances its impact.

Haikus are short, usually consisting of five to seven syllables. Most western haiku authors break this rule.

Western haiku should be graceful and airy. They should also have a few cliches or poetic tricks.

In Japanese renga, a collaborative poem, many poets trade lines. This is a precursor to modern haiku. During the 13th and 14th centuries, this style of poetry was very popular.

Palindromes

Palindromes are a fun form of poetry. If you’ve never heard of palindromes before, they’re basically poems that reverse their order halfway through the poem.

They can be used in a variety of ways. Some are concerned with numbers, while others use symbolic and biological meanings. A palindrome can also be a great mnemonic device.

For instance, “noon” is a palindrome. This is because the first letter of each word makes the first word. When the last line of the first half of the poem is read backwards, the first line of the second half becomes the penultimate line.

Antimetabole is another example. This is when the poet uses the same word in a different form to convey a different meaning.

Palindromes are often found in classical music, especially the symphony. They’re also used in magic spells, which means they have an ancient history. There are even examples of palindromes in other languages, like Sanskrit.