Poetry

Introduction

Poetry is perhaps the ultimate expression of language. While some epic poems like the Odyssey and The Ramayana explore complex stories, most poetry simply seeks to convey emotions or ideas. More structured poetic works play with these ideas within the confines of a prescribed number of syllables, lines, or stanzas. Some poems further structure themselves using simple or complex rhyme schemes. Punctuation often plays a crucial role in this rhythmic control, while devices such as alliteration create sonic relationships between words and sounds. From the grandiose works of Petrarch to the intimate musings of Emily Dickinson, from the structured brilliance of Shakespearean sonnets to the freestyle reflections of e. e. cummings, the poem has continued to grow and evolve into new and varied modes of expression.

Essential Facts

1. The Epic of Gilgamesh, written thousands of years ago in Mesopotamia, is the oldest extant poem.
2. The French poet Paul Valery once defined poetry as the unique intersection of language and state of mind.
3. One of the key areas of study in poetry is “prosody,” the study of meter and rhythm.
4. Aristotle believed there were three categories of poetry: epic, tragic, and comic. He elaborated these ideas in the appropriately titled work Poetics.
5. The haiku is one of the shortest forms of poetic writing. Originating in Japan, a haiku poem is only seventeen syllables, typically broken down into three lines of five, seven, and five syllables, respectively.