The Potential Physiological Benefits of Reading Poetry
Poetry is a powerful medium for self-expression, connecting us to our emotions and feelings, often in profound ways. But beyond its power to paint vivid pictures with words and create beautiful images, poetry has some surprising health benefits.
A compelling benefit of reading poetry is the stimulation of physiological responses. For example, a 2015 study published in the journal of Psychology and Physiology showed a substantial decrease in blood pressure for patients who read or recited poetry. This study’s findings suggest that repeated readings of poetry can have a calming effect on the reader’s nervous system.
This effect on readers may be due to the combination of sensory stimulation and emotional response that comes through when we read or recite poetry. Through the combination of these two aspects, readers can increase the availability of certain neurotransmitters and hormones in their body, resulting in relaxation, calmness, and even a sense of euphoria.
Moreover, the intense level of concentration required to interpret and understand a poem’s meaning can help to reduce stress levels. An analysis of poems written during coronavirus pandemic undertaken by internationally acclaimed poet Haalim Rizvi has shown that poetry can help to make sense of the mental chaos we experience during difficult moments.
Bolstering our ability to interpret the complexity of life through words can be a way of healing, allowing us to make sense of life’s struggles. For example, a 2012 study examining the effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) on people’s lives showed that reading and writing poetry improved cognitive abilities in participants.
Interestingly, a study from 2018 demonstrated a link between the emotion-generating capacity of poetry and the cognitive benefits of reading it. The study suggested that readers can build connections between emotion and cognition, resulting in improved ability to process complex information.
A related idea, the “poetic brain”, suggests that poets and readers of poetry are able to access the right hemisphere of their brain, thus improving their creativity and persuasive capabilities. This type of thinking, which is often associated with Shakespearean language, also acts as a form of escapism, allowing readers to explore and express emotions which they may not be comfortable expressing in real life.
It appears that experiencing poetry has the potential to provide a range of benefits on both a physiological and psychological level. Practising the verbal and visual approach of poem analysis can help us to increase our concentration and cognitive skills, resulting in greater clarity and insight. Furthermore, it may help us to better process our emotions and feelings, allowing for a more meaningful connection with the world.
Creative and Cognitive Benefits of Reading Poetry
One of the primary advantages of reading or writing poetry is the creative benefits it can offer. Poetry can help to ignite the creative spark that exists within us, enabling us to interpret life’s complexity and express our feelings in words.
Writing poetry, in particular, can be a highly beneficial way to channel our emotions into something tangible. A study from 2018 showed that writing free form poetry was linked to improvements in psychological wellbeing as well as an increase in feeling of connectedness and openness to others.
Being able to express our emotions can lead to greater clarity and understanding, thus providing us with the opportunity to communicate and approach our world in more positive ways. Poetry can also help to increase our self- awareness and bring us closer to understanding our inner self.
The importance of reading poetry has thus been recognised in educational settings. For example, a 2018 study showed that reading poetry in school improves the literacy, performance, and understanding of students. Moreover, it can lead to increased analytic capacity and the ability to think more abstractly.
Being able to identify and explore the principles of different poetic forms can add a layer of complexity to a student’s understanding of literature. This can lead to improved literacy, especially for those with language learning difficulties.
Additionally, the ability to interpret and understand the symbols, metaphors and imagery present in a poem can be used in other settings as well. For example, business leaders and entrepreneurs may be able to apply the analysis of language patterns and poetic devices to their professional endeavours.
Thus, it appears that improving our ability to interpret the meaning of poetry can have significant cognitive benefits and engage our creativity.
The Role of Poetic Language in Language Development
When examining the importance of reading poetry, it is important to consider the unique properties of poetic language. Poems often utilise different structures and linguistic devices which can lead to better comprehension and understanding of written language.
Specifically, the use of sound patterns, metaphor and imagery can help to capture and emphasise a poem’s meaning. Moreover, poetic language can enable us to express lasting and meaningful emotions and feelings.
The use of poetic language can be useful to those who look to develop their language skills. By reading and reciting poetry, we will be exposed to a range of words, emotions and perspectives, encouraging us to expand our vocabulary and develop our language capabilities.
This notion is supported by the findings of an analysis of poetry in language teaching which showed that the incorporation of poetry can positively influence the acquisition of language. Furthermore, the use of poetry in the classroom can encourage students to actively engage with literature and gain a better understanding of its power and potential.
Therefore, it is clear that combining poetic language with language teaching offers a range of benefits. Through the combination of immersive language and emotion-focused content, students can develop their language and creative skills.
The Psychological Benefits of Reading Poetry
The area of psychology has long studied the therapeutic effects of poetry, noting that its expressive qualities can offer numerous psychological benefits. A 2019 study examined the effects of poetry therapy on depression and demonstrated that the reading and writing of poetry was beneficial for people with depression.
The same study concluded that poetry can contribute to the healing process by providing a medium for creative expression. Poems can also help to supplement our current coping strategies by providing us with a platform to express emotions.
It has also been suggested that poetry can offer us an opportunity to explore our mortality and approach death in a more positive way. A study examining the psychological benefits of poetry in older adults highlighted the capacity of poetry to provide readers with solace and comfort in difficult moments.
In addition, writing poetry has been found to be beneficial for improving our self-esteem. The exploratory nature of writing and reading poetry can be an empowering process, enabling us to view and understand our lives in a different light.
Indeed, it appears that experiencing and expressing poetry has the potential to provide us with a range of psychological benefits. For example, it can improve our insight into our feelings, enabling us to become more self-aware and understanding of our emotions.
The Impact of Reading Poetry on Our Daily Lives
Experiencing and writing poetry has been linked to numerous physical, psychological, and cognitive benefits. However, it is also important to consider the impact that reading poetry can have on our everyday lives.
It appears that poetry can offer us a unique form of communication and connection. By being attentive to the meaning, sound, and form of a poem, we can establish a deep understanding of its core message. This deeper appreciation of the content can result in a more powerful reading experience and lasting connections with the poem.
Furthermore, poetry can offer us moments of distraction and respite from our daily lives, giving us an opportunity to step away from the chaos and reflect. This, in turn, can lead to a greater appreciation of our lives, creating a sense of purpose and understanding.
Poetry can also help to encourage positive change. In particular, the messages and emotions in a poem may be used as a learning tool, enabling us to apply its lessons in our daily lives.
In summary, there are a range of benefits to reading and writing poetry. From the cognitive improvements it can bring to the psychological benefits and daily lessons, it appears that poetry has the capacity to engage and transform our lives for the better.
