FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION
Poetry and Structure
Form Follows Function
What do you think this saying means?
Can you think of examples in life where the form of something is closely tied to its function?
Guggenheim Museum
Martha Graham
Toilet Paper
Poetry
Narrative Poetry
Narrative poetry is determined by content and to a degree form.
It must tell a story.So, it must contain narrative elements like
Setting Characters Plot Theme These elements follow the structure of a story.
There are different types of narrative poems…
Epic Poetry is an extended narrative poem recounting actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes and is written in high style.
Epic Poems
Protagonist is heroically larger than lifeDeeds of the hero are presented without
favoritism, revealing flaws as well as virtuesAction, often in battle, reveals the more-than-
human strength of heroesSetting covers several nations, the whole
world, or even the universeAll of the adventures form a whole, where
each event relates to the central theme
Narrative Poetry
Ballad is a type of poetry which was basically used in dance songs in ancient France.
Distinguishing Features include Simple, easy-to-understand language Stories about hardships, tragedies, love, and
romance Recurrence of certain lines at regular
intervals Seldom offers a direct message about an
event, character, or situation (the audience must deduce the moral)
Lyric Poetry
• Lyric poetry consists of poems that express the thoughts and feelings of the poet.
• Lyric poetry does NOT tell a story which portrays characters and actions.
• The lyric poet addresses the reader directly, portraying his/her own feeling, state of mind, and perceptions.
Types of Lyric Poetry
Ode- comes from the Greek aeidein, meaning to sing or chant.
It can be generalized as a formal address to an event, a person, or a thing not present.
Different types of odes have different structures associated with them.
Sonnet
You show two related but differing things to the reader in order to communicate something about them.
Each of the three major types of sonnets accomplishes this in a somewhat different way.
There are, of course, other types of sonnets, as well, but the basic three are Italian, Spenserian, English.
All Sonnets
Have fourteen linesFollow a strict rhyme scheme
Example