Different Types of Poetry

Haiku
The haiku (or hokku) is an ancient form of Japanese poetry that has become very
popular all over the world. Renowned for its small size, haikus consist of just three
lines (tercet); the first and third lines have five syllables, whereas the second has
seven. Haikus don’t have to rhyme and are usually written to evoke a particular
mood or instance. So, you can have a lot of fun with them! You may have written
or will find yourself writing your own haiku at some point in school, or you can get
creative and try it at home, too.
Free verse
Free verse is a popular style of modern poetry, and as its name suggests there is a
fair amount of freedom when it comes to writing a poem like this. Free verse can
rhyme or not, it can have as many lines or stanzas as the poet wants, and it can be
about anything you like! So, while free verse may sound simple enough, the lack
of rules makes this form of poetry tricky to master!
Sonnet
This very old form of poetry was made famous by none other than William
Shakespeare, but the sonnet actually originated in 13th century Italy where it was
perfected by the poet Petrarch. The word ‘sonnet’ is derived from the Italian
word ‘sonnetto’ which means ‘little song’. Traditionally, sonnets are made up of
14 lines and usually deal with love. An eight-line stanza (octave) rhyming ABBAABBA,
and a six-line stanza (sestet) rhyming CDCDCD or CDECDE .As a rule, Petrarchan
(Italian) sonnets follow an ABBA ABBA CDE CDE rhyme scheme, whereas
Shakespearean (English) sonnets are typically ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
Limerick
Limericks are funny (and sometimes rude!) poems which were made popular
by Edward Lear in the 19th century. They have a set rhyme scheme of AABBA, with
lines one, two and five all being longer in length than lines three and four. The last
line is often the punchline. Their sound is very distinctive, it’s likely you’ve heard
or read one before!
Ode
The ode is one of the oldest forms of poetry and believed to have come from
ancient Greece. The word ‘ode’ is derived from the Greek word ‘aeidein’ which
means ‘to sing or chant’, and these poems were originally performed with a
musical instrument. An ode is typically written to praise a person, event or thing
(you could write an ode to your pet or favourite food!) and they are usually quite
short in length.
Elegy
An elegy doesn’t have rules like some of the other forms of poetry but it does
have a set subject: death They are usually written about a loved one who has
passed away, but can also be written about a group of people, too. Although they
can sound sad, elegies often end on a hopeful note
Ballad
The ballad is another old and traditional form of poetry that typically tells a
dramatic or emotional story. They came from Europe in the late Middle Ages and
were initially passed down from one generation to another, and often with music.
Ballads do have a set form; they are typically four lines (quatrain) and have a
rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB. However, this form is looser than others so can
be modified to suit a writer’s (that’s you!) needs. Most modern pop songs you
hear nowadays can be referred to as ballads!
Parable
a usually short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious
principle the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan also : something (such as a
news story or a series of real events) likened to a parable in providing an
instructive example or lesson
Legend
Originated from Latin legendus, legend means “something which ought to be
read.” According to J. A. Cuddon, a legend is “a story or narrative that lies
somewhere between myth and historical fact and which, as a rule, is about a
particular figure or person.” Traditionally, a legend is a narrative that focuses on a
historically or geographically specific figure, and describes his exploits. Similar to a
myth, a legend can provide an etymological narrative, often filling in historical
gaps.
Epic
An epic is a long narrative poem that is elevated and dignified in theme, tone,
and style. As a literary device, an epic celebrates heroic deeds and historically (or
even cosmically) important events. An epic usually focuses on the adventures of
a hero who has qualities that are superhuman or divine, and on whose very fate
often depends on the destiny of a tribe, nation, or sometimes the whole of the
human race. The Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid are considered the most
important epics in western world literature, although this literary device has been
utilized across regions and cultures.
Myth
Myths are stories that often have religious origins that provide explanations for
natural phenomena, offer moral insight, and include supernatural beings.
Allegory
Allegory is a narration or description in which events, actions,
characters, settings or objects represent specific abstractions or ideas. Allegory
generally operates on two levels as a literary device. The overt or
surface narrative/description is meant to have enough literary elements to be a
standalone work that is interesting and/or entertaining by itself. However, the
emphasis of allegory is typically placed on the abstract ideals represented or
symbolized by the work’s literary elements. In other words, the meaning behind
the surface narrative has even greater value as a literary work. Though many
allegories are intended to be didactic in providing a moral, ethical, or religious
lesson, not all allegories set out to achieve this goal

A short poetry glossary

Stanza = a set amount of lines in poetry grouped together by their length, meter
or rhyme scheme.
Couplet = a two-line stanza.
Tercet = a three-line stanza.
Quatrain = a four-line stanza.
Cinquain = a five-line stanza.
Sestet = a six-line stanza.
Meter = the pattern of stressed syllables (long-sounding) and unstressed syllables
(short-sounding) in poetry.
Rhyme scheme = the pattern of rhyme that comes at the end of each line or
verse.
Syllable = the single, unbroken sound of a spoken or written word.
Genres of Literature
Play
A play is a literary work written for the theater that dramatizes events through
the performance of dialogue and stage directions. The authors of plays, called
playwrights, structure the performances into acts and scenes, which help build
the tension and present the story in a compelling way for audiences.
One Act Play
A one-act play is a play that has only one act, as distinct from plays that occur
over several acts. One-act plays may consist of one or more scenes. The 20-40
minute play has emerged as a popular subgenre of the one-act play, especially in
writing competitions
Fiction
fiction, literature created from the imagination, not presented as fact, though it
may be based on a true story or situation. Types of literature in the fiction genre
include the novel, short story, and novella.
Non-Fiction
Non-fiction is writing that gives information or describes real events, rather
than telling a story.
Comic
Comedy is a literary genre and a type of dramatic work that is amusing and light
in its tone, mostly having cheerful ending
Tragedy
Tragedy, branch of drama that treats in a serious and dignified style the
sorrowful or terrible events encountered or caused by a heroic individual.

Satire

Satire is the art of making someone or something look ridiculous, raising

laughter in order to embarrass, humble, or discredit its targets.
Different Types of Themes/Appeals in Literature

Universal Theme/Appeal

A universal theme is an idea that applies to anyone regardless of cultural

differences, or geographic location. Universal themes are ways to connect ideas
across all disciplines. It is a central idea about the human condition. It is a
generalization about life or human nature; they deal with basic human concerns.

Communal Theme/ Appeal

The relation between individual and community has to be one that is oriented
toward the common good but still gives the individual space to exercise his or her
own free will. The conflict between individual and the community is a common
theme in literature and focuses on opposing forces, society, history, and the
community at odds with individual subjectivity, desire, and will.

Emotional Theme/ Appeal

Themes in literature that are related to complex emotions like hope, grief, guilt,
regret, pride

National Theme/Appeal

A national theme is an essential element in the formation of national character. It

is not merely the record of a country's mental progress: it. is the expression of its
intellectual life, the bond of national unity, and. the guide of national energy

Grammar

Different Types of Transitive Verb

"Among transitive verbs, there are three sub-types: monotransitive verbs have
only a direct object, ditransitive verbs have a direct object and an indirect or
benefactive object. Complex-transitive verbs have a direct object and an object
attribute.
 Monotransitive verb
 Yesterday, I bought a cat.
 The cat bit me!
 He broke the toothpick.
 The chef ate his own watermelon soup.
 He bought a book
The verbs bought, bit, broke, and ate are monotransitive in above examples.

Ditransitive Verbs

 She wrote me a letter.

 They keep us guessing.
 This is causing us to worry.

Complex Verbs

Complex-transitive verbs in English include believe, consider, declare, elect, find,

judge, keep, know, label, make, name, presume, pronounce, prove, rate, regard,
and think. Note that verbs often belong to more than one category.

Exophoric reference

It occurs when a word or phrase refers to something outside the discourse. Here
are some examples of exophoric reference: “They're late again, can you believe
it?” “I know! Well, they'd better get here soon or it'll get cold.”

Anaphoric reference

It means that a word in a text refers back to other ideas in the text for its
meaning. It can be compared with cataphoric reference, which means a word
refers to ideas later in the text Here's an example of anaphoric reference: Michael
went to the bank. He was annoyed because it was closed.

Cataphoric reference

It means that a word in a text refers to another later in the text and you need to
look forward to understand. It can be compared with anaphoric reference, which
means a word refers back to another word for its meaning. Here are some
examples of cataphoric reference: Although I phone her every week, my mother
still complains that I don't keep in touch often enough. Her refers to my mother.

Prepared by

Ma’am Samiya Gul

Senior Boys Wing

Fort Road