5 Common Forms of Poetry

By georgelthomas on 1 Nov 2022 • ( 0 )

Hi everyone, I hope you’re all well. Today I’m talking about poetry, and in particular, the various forms it can take.

There are many different kinds of poetry, each with a different form and style and so with that in mind, here are:

5 common types of poetry

1 Haiku
A Haiku is a type of Japanese poem consisting of three lines. The first line contains five syllables, the second has seven syllables, and the third line has five syllables. Haiku poems are most often about nature and usually have seasonal references.

2 Sonnet
A sonnet is a poem made up of 14 lines written in iambic pentameter. There are two types of sonnets: the Italian sonnet and the Shakespearean sonnet. The Italian sonnet is made up of an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). The octave introduces the problem or question, and the sestet resolves it. The Shakespearean sonnet consists of three quatrains (four lines) and a couplet (two lines). The quatrains present different aspects of the problem, and the couplet provides the resolution.

3 Ode
An ode is a poem written to praise someone or something. There are three types of odes: the Pindaric ode, the Horatian ode, and the irregular ode. The Pindaric ode consists of stanzas of three lines, with the first and third lines having five syllables and the second line having seven syllables. The Horatian ode consists of stanzas of four lines, with all lines having eight syllables. The irregular ode does not have a specific form.

4 Concrete
Concrete poetry is a form of poetry where words are arranged to create a visual image. Concrete poetry can be about any topic, and the words can be arranged in any way.

5 Elegy
An elegy is a poem that is written to mourn someone who has passed away. Elegies can be either formal or informal with formal elegies following a specific rhyme scheme and meter, while informal elegies do not. Elegies are usually sad poems.

Now that you know some of the different types of poetry, why not try writing a few poems of your own? You can experiment with different styles and see what you like best.

As always, thanks for reading and spending some of your time here with me today, I hope you learned something!

Until next time,

George