More recently Chilean poet Pablo Neruda wrote odes to a variety of topics. Some of them were about the Olympic games. Pindar was an ancient Greek who wrote great odes. Odes are generally meant to be performed with music. What makes this poem an elegy? How is it similar or different from the description of an elegy given above? OdeĪn ode is a lyric poem with a complicated structure that praises a person or marks an important event. The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done įrom fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won Ĥ. My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills įor you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths-for you the shores a-crowding įor you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring: The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done This is a famous elegy written about Abraham Lincoln. Elegies are typically written in couplets that have a specific pattern of meter. ElegyĪn elegy is a very sad poem, often expressing sorrow over someone who has died. Types of lyric poems include elegies, odes, and sonnets. Lyrics often have a refrain or a line or lines that are repeated throughout the poem. Lyric poems may be sung or accompanied by music, but may not. Lyric PoetryĪ lyric poem is generally short and expresses deep personal feelings. Epic poetry is not typically sung.įamous epic poems include Homer’s “The Odyssey” and “Paradise Lost” by John Milton. Are any of them ballads? What makes them a ballad? Epic PoetryĪn epic poem is generally long and tells a story, often of a hero or a very significant event. Why is this poem a ballad? How is it similar or different from the description of the ballad given above?ģ. He said there's no man with the law in his handġ. Jesse leaves a wife, that'll moan all her lifeįor Robert Ford the coward that shot Mr. He was born one day in the county of Clay Jesse went to rest with his hand on his breastĪnd there are many who never saw his face The people held their breath when they heard of Jesse's death Oh, they laid poor Jesse in his grave, yes lord Twas on a Saturday night and Jesse was at homeīob Ford came along like a thief in the night It was on a Friday night when the moon was shining brightįor the agent on his knees, delivered up the keys The people they did say for many miles away It was on a Wednesday night the moon was shining bright Jesse leaves a wife, that'll mourn all her lifeįor that dirty little coward, he shot Mr. It was in this very place they had a little chaseĪnd they shot Captain Sheets to the ground. It was with his brother Frank he robbed the Gallatin Bank It was Robert Ford, that dirty little cowardįor he ate Jesse's bread and he slept in Jesse's bed,Īnd with his brother Frank he robbed the Springfield bank
He stole from the rich and he gave to the poor Jesse James was a lad that killed many a man. Try reading this aloud and notice the patterns of rhyme and stressed patterns. Since then, many famous singers like Van Morrison have sung variations of this ballad. No one knows who originally wrote this, because it was passed down as a song for many years before being written down. Ballads tell a story, often one that is dramatic or emotional.īallads are often written in quatrainsthat have alternating rhymes and patterns of stressed syllables. BalladsĪ ballad is a narrative poem written in a rhythmic verse that may be sung. Here are some different types of poems with examples of each one. Some poems have a specific number of syllables in each line, but some poems have no rules at all. Some poems have several stanzas or sections, and other don't. Sometimes, poems follow specific rules, like how many words are in each line, but not always. Sometimes, poems rhyme, but sometimes they don’t. It could be a funny, silly poem or a dark, sad one. Mood and tone have to do with how the poem makes you feel.
Setting is the time and place a story or poem takes place in. These feelings are created through setting, mood, and tone. Poetry is a special kind of writing that uses the sound and rhythm of words to tell a story and to make the reader feel a certain way. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.