Blank verse Poetry written with a precise metre – almost always iambic pentameter (a type of metric line that describes the rhythm of the words in that line) – but that does not rhyme
Free verse Poetry that does not rhyme and does not have a regular rhyming scheme
Limerick A five-line poem that consists of a single stanza with an aabba rhyming scheme
Elegy A poem that reflects upon death or loss
Epic A lengthy narrative work of poetry that often describes extraordinary feats and adventures of characters from a distant past
Haiku A three-line poetic form originating in Japan where the first line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables and the third line again has five syllables
Rhymed poetry Poetry that by definition rhymes, although the rhyming scheme varies
Ode Much like an elegy, an ode is a tribute to its subject, although the subject need not be dead – or even a person. For example, John Keats wrote a poem called ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’.
Sonnet A 14-line poem often about love. The exact rhyming scheme depends on the style of sonnet (Petrarchan or Shakespearean).
Narrative Similar to an epic, a narrative poem tells a story. It contains all of the elements of a fully developed story (characters, plot, conflict and resolution) and is typically told by just one narrator or speaker. It can rhyme or be written in free verse.
Introduction to Poetry
What I will learn:
How do you think a poet goes about writing a poem? Discuss this as a class. Then write down your own definition of the words ‘poet’ and ‘poem’ and share your definitions as a class.
