Poetry 1

1.     What is poetry? What are the features that poetic texts have? Name and explain them.

Poetry is a literary form that expresses ideas, emotions, or tells a story in a concentrated and often rhythmic way. Poetic texts often employ features like: Form – the structure of the poem; imagery – vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses; Sound -  includes rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, assonance; Figurative language – metaphors, similes, personification, etc.; meter – the rhythmic structure of the poem; Conciseness – a focus on precision in word choice

2.     Give three examples of lyric poetry and describe them.

Lyric poetry expresses personal emotions, thoughts, or feelings. Examples:

• “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth: The poem expresses the poet’s feelings of peace and joy when reflecting on nature.
• “Ode to a Nightingale” by John Keats: A lyric poem focusing on the poet's feelings of transcendence and escape into the beauty of the nightingale’s song.
• “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe: A melancholic and reflective lyric poem exploring themes of loss and longing.

3.     Give three examples of narrative poetry and describe them.

Narrative poetry tells a story, often with characters and a plot. Examples:

• “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe: While also a lyric, this poem has narrative elements as it tells a story about a man grieving and encountering a mysterious raven.
• “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge: A long narrative poem that tells the story of a mariner who faces consequences for killing an albatross.
• “Beowulf” (Anonymous): An epic poem that narrates the adventures and battles of the hero Beowulf.

4.     What is prosody? What is metre? Which types of metre are there?

Which type is most common in English poetry?

Prosody refers to the patterns of rhythm and sound in poetry, including elements like meter, rhyme, and intonation.

Meter is the structured rhythm in poetry, defined by the number of syllables and their stress pattern in each line. Common types of meter include:

• Iambic (iambic pentameter): An unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. Most common in English poetry.
• Trochaic: A stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable.
• Anapestic: Two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one.
• Dactylic: A stressed syllable followed by two unstressed ones.
• Spondaic: Two stressed syllables.

The most common meter in English poetry is iambic pentameter.

5.     What do Old English poetry and rap have in common in terms of prosody?

Both Old English poetry and rap music make use of strong rhythms, repetition, and verbal dexterity. Old English poetry often had a strong rhythmic and alliterative pattern, while rap is known for its rhythmic flow and the use of rhyme and meter to create a beat-driven experience.

6.     What is a unit of metre called? What different types are there? Describe each of them.

A unit of meter is called a foot. Types of feet include:

• Iamb (iambic): An unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (e.g., "allow").
• Trochee (trochaic): A stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable (e.g., "garden").
• Anapest (anapestic): Two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable (e.g., "understand").
• Dactyl (dactylic): A stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables (e.g., "beautiful").
• Spondee (spondaic): Two stressed syllables (e.g., "dead end").

7.     Why is it sometimes hard to identify the meter of a poem? And what is the maximisation principle?

It can be hard to identify the meter due to irregularities or metrical deviation in the poem. Poets sometimes break traditional patterns for effect. The maximisation principle suggests that poets often strive to create regular and predictable meter patterns but may deviate from this norm for artistic effect or emphasis.

8.     What is the purpose of metrical deviation? How is it created? How is this process manifested when reciting poetry?

Metrical deviation is used to create emphasis or surprise, break monotony, or express emotional intensity. It can be created by adding extra syllables, omitting syllables, or using an unexpected stress pattern. When reciting, this might manifest as changes in rhythm or pauses that draw attention to certain words or ideas.

Define!

OVERSTRUCTURING

This refers to when a structure or system is too rigidly applied or too complex, to the point that it becomes counterproductive or overly detailed.

SELF-REFERENTIALITY

This is when a text refers to itself, either in its content, structure, or style. In literature, a self-referential work is aware of its own creation or status as a text.

ALEXANDRINE

A line of poetry consisting of 12 syllables, typically divided into two parts of six syllables each. It’s often used in French poetry and can be found in English poetic tradition as well.

FREE VERSE

A form of poetry that doesn’t follow a consistent meter or rhyme scheme, allowing the poet more freedom to create rhythm based on meaning and emotion.