Different Types of Poetry

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Types of Poetry

ln this presentation, we will discuss different kinds of poetry and how they are used.

Lesson Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand, explain, and analyze different kinds of poetry.

Type & Form

There are many types or forms of poems. Some fit specific formats and some fit specific themes.

Some examples include:

Acrostic: a word or set of words written down the page and each line starts with that letter.
Haiku: a type of Japanese poem that has only three lines. It has specific syllable lengths of 5-7-5.

​Sonnets & Villanelles

​Villanelle

• ​A type of poetry with five three-line stanzas and a final quatrain.

• The first and third lines of the first stanza repeating alternately in the following stanzas

​Sonnets

• ​A type of poem consisting of fourteen lines of iambic pentameter

• William Shakespeare is known for sonnets​

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Cinquain

Cinquain poetry has five lines.

• Line 1: one word, title

• Line 2: two words describing title

• Line 3: three words describing action

• Line 4: four words expressing feeling

• Line 5: one word recalling the title

​EXAMPLE:

"Shopping" by Me

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​Shopping

​Fun Activity

​Go Into Debt

​Makes Me Feel Good

​Shopping

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Ballad

A ballad poem is one that tells a story, like a legend or a folktale. Ballads also have refrains or lines/phrases that repeat.

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Free Verse and Blank Verse

Free verse poetry has no set form or meter (pattern)

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Blank verse poetry is similar, however it does have a form--it is written in iambic pentameter.

Multiple Choice

TRUE OR FALSE: Blank verse poetry is different from free verse poetry because free verse poetry has no rhymes but is written in iambic pentameter.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

A short, unrhymed Japanese poem with three lines of five syllables, seven syllables, and five syllables.

• Villanelle

• Free Verse

• Haiku

• Cinquain

Multiple Choice

A poem that has a refrain and tells a story about the Tooth Fairy would be a...

• cinquain

• haiku

• ballad

• limerick

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Classicism and Epics

Classicism is poetry that promotes the beauty and ideals of Greek and Roman art, architecture, and literature. They're not always about mythology but can be.

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Epic poetry is poetry that tells a story about a heroic figure. Think, The Odyssey or The Iliad.

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Limerick

• A short, humorous poem with five lines.

• Lines 1,2, and 5: have five to ten syllables that rhyme and have the same verbal rhythm

• Lines 3 & 4: have five to seven syllables, rhyme, and have the same rhythm

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Narratives and Lyrics

A narrative poem is a poem that tells a story. Any story.

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Lyrical poems are poems that specifically express the thoughts and feelings of the poet.

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Multiple Choice

Epic poetry is poetry that

• is about the poet's emotions

• is about a hero

• is short and humorous

Multiple Choice

All poems must rhyme.

• True

• False

Multiple Select

SELECT ALL THAT APPLY: A limerick is a poem that

• has five lines

• some lines have 5-10 syllables

• are funny

• some lines have 5-7 syllables

Multiple Choice

A short poem in which the poet or another speaker expresses personal feelings and has specific rhyming schemes.

• Lyric

• Sonnet

• Ballad

• Epic

These are definitely not the only kinds of poetry

There are many, MANY, more kinds of poetry. However, these types are the most well-known. As we study poetry, we will come across more kinds of poems.