Learn Traditional Poetry

“Traditional poetry”- applies to the classical forms in rhyme, meter, and language. The later Modernist or Postmodernist forms have the spirit and content of poetry, but lack the traditional organization. Critics of free verse and other forms often allude to traditional forms as “proper poetry”. Characteristics of Traditional Poetry

Rhyme scheme – organized patterns of rhyme in poetry. Not all poems have

rhyme, however.
Meter – the rhythm or “pattern of accented and unaccented syllables in the lines of a poem.
Alliteration – repeating of beginning consonant sounds
Creamy and crunchy”
Assonance – repetition of vowel sounds.
Till the shining scythes went far and wide
And cut it down to dry
Consonance – repetition of consonant sounds anywhere in the words.
The sailor sings of ropes and things
In ships upon the seas
End rhyme – rhyming of words at the ends of two or more lines of poetry
She always had to burn a light
Beside her attic bed at night
Internal rhyme – rhyming of words within one line of poetry
Jack Sprat could eat no fator
Peter Peter pumpkin eater
Onomatopoeia – use of a word whose sound makes you think of its meaning
buzz, gunk, gushy, swish, zigzag, zing, zip

Repetition – repeating of a word or phrase to add rhythm or to emphasize an

Idea.
Suddenly there came a tapping, as of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
Stanza – a division in a poem named for the number of lines it contains
Couplet – two linesSestet – six lines
Triplet – three linesSeptet – seven lines

Quatrain – four linesOctave – eight lines

Forms of Traditional Poetry

Ballad – a poem which tells a story

– Ballad of Davy Crockett
Blank Verse – unrhymed poetry with meter. The lines are 10 syllables in Length. Every other syllable, beginning with the second Syllable is accented. Elegy – a poem which states a poet’s sadness about the death of an Important person. Epic – a long story which describes the adventures of a hero. Free Verse – poetry which does not require meter or a rhyme scheme.

Haiku – type of Japanese poetry which presents a picture of nature. A haiku poem is three lines in length. The first line is five syllables; the Second, seven; and the third, five. Limerick –short sometimes bawdy, humorous poems of consisting of five Anapestic lines. Lines 1, 2, and 5 of a Limerick have seven to ten syllables and rhyme with one another. Lines 3 and 4 have five to seven syllables and also rhyme with each other. Ode – long poem that is deep in feeling and imagery and is dedicated to a person or a thing. Begins with “Ode to _________” Sonnet –fourteen line poem which states a poet’s personal feelings. Follows a set rhyme scheme.