various kinds of poetry with its characteristics

1. S. Sindhiya
Assistant Professor
Department of English(SF)
SBK College, Aruppukottai.
Class : I B.A.English
Subject : Literary Forms
Topic : Characteristics of Poetry

2. Characteristics of Lyric
• Lyric is subjective
• Poetry composed to be sung with a lyre
• It expresses a single emotion
• Over emotion results in the loss of effectiveness
• Poet’s thoughts, feelings and emotions are expressed in the lyric

3. Characteristics of Ode
• Ode- rhymed lyric in the form of an address
• Ode is noted for its logical evaluation of thoughts
• Ode is of Greek origin
• Two types
• Dorian ode Or Pindaric ode
• Lesbian ode Or Horatian Ode
• Pindaric or Dorian ode consist of three parts
1. the strophe
2. anti- strophe
3. epode
• Horatian ode – consists of short stanzas similar in length and arrangement

4. Characteristics of the sonnet
• Sonnet- lyric in 14 lines in iambic pentameter
• Complex development of a single theme
• Sonnet is of Latin origin
• Two types
• Petrarchan sonnet
• Shakespearean sonnet
• Petrarchan sonnet- composed of octave ( 8 lines) and sestet (6 lines)
• Shakespearean sonnet 3 stanzas and couplet (2lines)

5. Characteristics of Elegy
• Elegy- lyric of mourning
• Elegy is of Greek origin
• Theme is more important form in elegy
• Lamentation for the dead
• Sense of Loss and melancholy are the features of an elegy