The concept characteristics and poets of the form of Lyric.

1. Form, Characteristics and poets of the
lyric prepared by Dipti Vaghela
The Lyric

2. The form of Lyric
 Lyric poetry is a formal type of poetry which expresses
personal emotions or feelings, typically spoken in the first
person. It is not equivalent to song lyrics, though they are
often in the lyric mode.
 The term derives from a form of Ancient Greek literature,
the lyric, which was defined by its musical accompaniment,
usually on a stringed instrument known as a lyre.
 Lyric is a very common kind of subjective poetry. It is the
most widely used means of self-expression and catharsis.
Man has always loved to give catharsis to his pent-up
feelings through the means of lyric. That is the reason; lyric
is considered to be amongst the earliest forms of poetry in
the history of English literature.

3.  They give us the poet’s experience, and the
feeling connected with it, in the shortest and
simplest form. They are easy to read and
understand, but difficult to write. They seem to
come directly from the heart of the writer and to
go straight to the heart of the reader, with the
smallest possible interference from the mind.
 A poem of course must contain a mixture of both,
but in lyric poetry the feeling comes before the
thoughts as it does in Wordsworth’s lines on the
Rainbow…

4. Characteristics of lyric
 Simplicity is a prominent feature of a lyric. Every
lyric is composed in such a language that every
person can understand it easily. For example,
look at the songs of modern times. Any lyric,
which is simple and expresses pent-up feelings
and emotions of the poet, has an extraordinary
appeal to the readers, audience and viewers.
 Every lyric deals with a single emotion, which
is usually stated in the very first line of the lyric.
Then the poet gives us the thoughts suggested
by that particular emotion. The last and
concluding part is in the nature of a summary or it
embodies the conclusions reached by the poet.

5.  Its musical quality. Musical quality makes it the
most popular and widely used form of poetry in the
history of English literature. Every lyric is incomplete
without the accompaniment of music. Just listen to a
song without music! You will certainly feel the
difference between the lyric with music and lyric
without music
 Catharsis of emotions is another important quality of
a lyric. Every poet tries his best to give vent to his
internal feelings and emotions through the means of a
lyric. That’s why; when we are alone, we also whisper
songs and enjoy ourselves. It depends upon our
mood. If we are happy, then we tend to sing a jubilant
song. If not, then we tend to sing a sad song.
Whatever may be the case, lyric is a means of
catharsis of our emotions.

6.  Intensity is also another characteristic of a lyric.
Every lyric consists of such lines, which reveal the
intensity of the emotions of the author. Modern
love songs are best examples in this regard.
Every song expresses the intensity of love of the
author for his or her beloved.
 Spontaneity is the backbone of any lyric. Any
lyric, which lacks in spontaneity, may not be as
appealing to the readers as other. Thus
spontaneity plays an important role in the
composition of a lyric. Without spontaneity, no
lyric can be sung with a musical instrument.
Those lyrics, which are spontaneous in reading,
can be sung easily with any musical instrument.

7. Poets of Lyric
 1)Wordsworth: Rainbow, to the Cuckoo, The thorn, I
wandered lonely as a cloud, etc.
‘My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man:
So be it when I shall grow old
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man:
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.

8.  2) Thomas Hardy: Are you digging on my Grave?, Weathers, etc.
“ This is the weather the cuckoo likes,
And so do I
When showers betumble the chestnut spikes,
And nestlings fly:
3) Robert Burns: His famous poem is ‘A Red Rose’
O,my love is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June.
O,my love is like the melodie
That’s sweetly played in tune.
4) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
5) John Keats
6) P.B. Shelley
7) Lord Byron
8) Tennyson
9) Gray
10) Oliver Goldsmith