types of poetry
Poetry is a literary genre that focuses on the expression of a feeling, idea or story. It stands out for an aesthetic quality that, almost always, seeks to promote beauty. This representation is carried out through words, through prose or verse. At the same time, there are several types of poetry, which are defined by their style, theme, and resources.
Although modernist and postmodernist poetry has sought to generate freer texts, and has given rise to genres such as dirty realism, in general, This art uses elements such as musicality, meter and rhyme in order to transmit knowledge, sensations and emotions. in a beautiful way. In this article we will address the most prominent types of poetry.
Differences between prose and verse
Before breaking down the central point, it is necessary to clarify the main division of poetic genres, since the variations that will follow depend on this. To begin with, prose poetry does not follow a metric structure, it does not always rhyme., and it can be written using more natural language that, at the same time, tends to feel close to the readers who enjoy it.
For its part, The poetic manifestation in versation itself is much more formal. Follow a specific meter and take into account the rhythm of the sentences. Likewise, it is more elaborate and it usually rhymes—with exceptions such as free or white rhyme—allowing both consonances and assonances in its endings, depending on the established form or the taste of the poet.
4 most outstanding types of poetry
1. Lyrical poetry
This type of poetry It has its origins in Ancient Greece. As a poetic form, It focuses on the expression of the poet's thoughts, feelings and emotions.. A great variety of literary or rhetorical figures usually appear in poetry, such as ellipsis, hyperbole or irony. Likewise, subgenres such as the ode, the epigram or the elegy belong to it. Likewise, it tends to be called romantic poetry.
Example
“Sonnet”, by Lope de Vega
«Violante tells me to write a sonnet,
that in my life I have been in so much trouble:
fourteen verses say it is a sonnet,
mocking, mocking, the three go ahead.
«I thought I couldn't find a consonant
and I'm halfway through another quartet;
but if I see myself in the first triplet,
there is nothing in quartets that scares me.
«For the first tercet I am entering,
and it seems that I entered on the right foot,
Well, end with this verse I am giving.
«I'm already on the second, and I still suspect
I'm going through the thirteen verses ending:
count if there are fourteen: it is already done (…)».
2. Epic poetry
Narrates historical, heroic or mythological experiences, as well as significant or relevant events, serving to publicize certain beliefs, characters or events. Likewise, it usually has a bombastic tone, long verses, boxed meters, and rigid rhythms.
Example
Fragment of “The Odyssey”, by Homer
«Come here, honor of the Danaans, most glorious Ulysses,
of your march restrain your ardor to hear our song,
because no one in his black ship passes here without being attended to
to this voice that flows to us in honey sweetness from our lips.
3. Dramatic poetry
It shares elements with theater, being more similar to a text to be performed than a poem to be read.. Likewise, it advances through the monologues or dialogues of its characters.
Example
Fragment of “Romeo and Juliet”, by William Shakespeare
«Oh, Romeo, Romeo!
Why are you Romeo?
Deny your father and refuse your name;
or, if you don't want to, swear that you love me,
and I will stop being a Capulet.
4. Bucolic poetry
This poetic form has a preference for verse, and recounts events related to romantic relationships that take place in the countryside. Bucolic poetry seeks to create an idyllic and harmonious environment. On the other hand, other subgenres belong to it, such as the pastorela, the idyll and the eclogue.
Example
Fragment of “Eclogues tirsis”, by Virgil
«Every year I offer you, O Priapus!, a jug of milk and these cakes,
and you should not expect more from me,
Well, you only save a poor garden for me.
«Until now I have been able to carve you only from marble;
But if the young ones abound in my cattle, you will be made of gold.
Other types of poetry
satirical poetry
Use humor, irony and mockery to criticize or ridicule people, customs, situations or political systems. This can take various forms, from free verses to more rigid forms., like the sonnet. Examples of it could be "The Satires" by Juvenal and "Don Juan" by Lord Byron.
elegiac poetry
Expresses feelings of sadness or regret, especially related to death or loss. In principle, was written in elegiac couplets—a combination of hexameter and pentameter—. Although it continues to be created through this scheme, the modern poems that are associated with elegiac may vary. An example of this variant could be "Elegía a Ramón Sijé", by Miguel Hernández.
Haiku
It is a form of Japanese poetry that captures a fleeting moment of nature, emotions, or human experiences. Besides, It is characterized by being brief and concise. Its structure consists of three verses with a scheme of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Regarding haiku, its most famous exponent is Matsuo Bashō.
Visual poetry or calligram
It is a particular form of poetry where figures and words are combined, creating images from poetic texts. In this case, the structure is free, since the arrangement of the poem is what shapes the image. To exemplify this art it is possible to turn to works such as The Calligrams of Guillaume Apollinaire.
surreal poetry
Explore the irrational, the subconscious and dreams, breaking with logic and common sense. This type of poetry tends to be free, in addition to having a strong symbolic and visual charge. An example of this is "The Songs of Maldoror" by Lautréamont.
concrete poetry
Its style is reminiscent of calligrams. It focuses on the visual aspect of the poem, where the meaning may be in the form the text takes on the page. Your writing can be free, and prioritizes graphic layout over meter or rhyme. A good example of this lies in the works of Eugen Gomringer and Augusto de Campos.