Introduction

Introduction to Poetry

What is Poetry?

Poetry is difficult to perfectly explain or clearly define. In fact, many people continue to define it differently. Here is how some famous poets have described poetry:

1. Poetry is “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” –Wordsworth

2. “If I read a book and it makes my body so cold no fire ever can warm me, I know that is poetry.” –Emily Dickinson

3. “Poetry is what makes me laugh or cry or yawn, what makes my toenails twinkle, what makes me want to do this or that or nothing.” –Dylan Thomas

Now summarize each statement in your own words:

1.

2.

3.

What do all these poets’ definitions of poetry have in common?

Here are some basic definitions of poetry:

1. Poetry is composed of carefully chosen words expressing great depth of meaning.

2. Poetry uses specific devices such as connotation, sound, and rhythm to express the appropriate combination of meaning and emotion.

3. Poetry is the most compressed form of literature.

4. Poetry often uses language and literary devices that allow for multiple interpretations.

5. Poetry uses lines and line breaks to create meaning.

There are two basic types of poetry:

1. traditional - follows standard rules of grammar and syntax with a regular rhythm and rhyme scheme.

Ex) “So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.” --Shakespeare

2. modern - avoids rhyme and standard grammatical organization and seeks new ways of expression.

Ex) “so much depends

upon

a red wheel

barrow

glazed with rain

water

beside the white

chickens.” –William Carlos Williams

free verse - lines of poetry strong in rhythm but free of the regular repetitions of rhyme or meter. This kind of poetry is closer to natural speech.

Poetry Versus Prose:

Scholars, poets, and students are continually discussing the differences between poetry and prose writing (that is, the difference between a poem and a novel, short story, article, etc.). Here is how some poets have described the difference:

1. “Poetry is to prose as dancing is to walking.” –Paul Valery

2. “I dwell in Possibility--/A fairer House than Prose--/More numerous of Windows—/Superior—for Doors--“ –Emily Dickinson

Now try to explain what these two poets mean by these two statements.

1.

2.

Here are 2 basic differences between poetry and prose:

1. Lines: a poet considers the borders of the right and left margin and chooses where to begin and end the line (a prose writer continues to write the sentence until the typewriter or computer pulls the line over to the left margin)

2. Sound: poets are attuned to the way their lines and/or combination of words sound and often write for it to be read and heard out loud (prose writers don’t pay as much attention to how their phrases, lines, or sentences sound