Rhyme
Poetry is characterised by its use of rhyme. Rhyme is when words, usually at the ends of lines, sound similar or identical. Rhyming is often seen in other forms of literature, but few uses of rhyme are as precise and rhythmic as those found in poetry. The purpose of rhyme is to create a flow and to make poems sound musical. Rhyme is emotive, it helps to make poems more engaging and to draw people in.
The rhyme schemes used in poetry vary, from simple designs to more complex patterns. For example, an ABAB rhyme scheme is a popular pattern found in iambic pentameter poetry. Here, alternate lines will rhyme with each other. This pattern helps to create fluidity and structure when reading poetry. Sonnets are well-known for the specific rhyme schemes used, the Petrarchan sonnet for instance, is made up of an octave of ABBAABBA and a sestet of CDCDCD or CDECDE.
Rhyme has been a popular tool used in poetry for centuries. In Ancient Greek and Sanskrit, verse was composed of verses that used rhymes, with Homer’s Odyssey being an iconic example of this. In the Middle Ages, poets began to use a poetic form called villanelle, where the rhyme scheme is ABaAabAB, making it more complex than other forms.
Metre
Metre is a defining feature of poetry, it is used to create a steady beat and rhythm when reading. It is composed of a specific pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables, which form a poetic ‘foot’ of two or three syllables. The most common metres used in English poetry are iambic, trochaic, anapestic and dactylic metres.
Iambic metre is a pattern of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. William Shakespeare was well-known for using this style of metre, such as in the famous opening line ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?’. Trochaic metre is the opposite of this, it is a pattern of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable. This can be seen in the opening of Howl by Allen Ginsberg, with the line ‘I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness’.
Just like rhyme, metre has been used in poetry for centuries. It has transformed over the years, with modern poets creating more complex metres and foot patterns. Metre helps to shape the meaning and feeling of a poem, it is a powerful tool used to create rhythm and excitement when reading.
Free Verse
Free Verse is poetry without a fixed metrical pattern or form. It is a unique characteristic of poetry as it allows the poet to be expressive and creative, without being confined by structure. Whilst some poems may follow a set metre, others may not, offering freedom for a poet to use any words, structure and style they like.
Free Verse has been around for centuries. Walt Whitman first revolutionised it in the 19th century, and the style is still popular today, especially amongst modern poets. It reduces the barrier to entry for anyone wanting to write poetry, as it does not require a specific structure and allows for more freedom.
Free Verse is often experimental and challenging. It can often be chaotic, as it breaks traditional rules of poetry; however, it is a powerful way to write and express oneself. Free Verse poetry is an exciting, modern way to write, offering an experience to the reader that traditional metric poetry cannot.
Imagery
Imagery is an important tool used in poetry to create evocative images and scenes. Poets use vivid and descriptive language to paint a picture with words, creating an experience for readers to connect and engage with their work.
Imagery helps to create vivid metaphors and ideas which help to convey messages to readers. The poet captures feelings which emotionally resonate with the reader. For example, a poet may write about a tree, but this tree may take on a new form of meaning ar something else entirely. The tree symbolises something in the poem, maybe emotive, political, or even spiritual ideas.
The use of images can also help build tension in the poem, as well as adding structure and clarity. Imagery adds dynamism and interest to the poem, it serves as a powerful tool to engage readers and to convey meaning, something that other literary forms cannot do.
Rhythm
Rhythm is a defining feature of poetry and is often integral to the poem’s form and structure. The rhythmic elements of a poem are sometimes referred to as cadences. The cadences help to create a musicality and a flow when reading.
Just as metre is distinguished by its feet, rhythms can be both fast and slow. This can help create a sense of climax and excitement, or a sense of melancholy and depth. For example, the Beat poet Allen Ginsberg was well known for creating a rambling, fast-paced rhythm in his poems to create tension. Other poets use a slower, more ebb-like rhythm.
The rhythms used work together with the metre and other techniques to create an overall effect. It is an important tool used to create an atmosphere and immersive experience for readers.
Vivid Language
Vivid language is one of the most used techniques in poetry, fuelling emotion and atmosphere when reading. Poets use vivid language to create dynamic and expressive images, allowing readers to feel.
Vivid language can take many forms, such as metaphors and similes, as well as personification, symbolism and symbolism. It is an important tool used to express emotions and to conjure up vivid scenes in the mind of the reader.
A well-crafted line of vivid language in a poem can bring powerful images and feelings that other literary forms cannot. Poetry is a powerful tool for creative expression and vivid language is an integral part of this.
The Written Form
Poetry is traditionally written in a written form, this includes the use of physical or digital papers, or even typing on computer software. This helps to create a sense of structure and emotional impact when reading a poem. The written form of poetry gives readers a physical shape to engage with and can be used to emphasise certain parts of the poem, such as important phrasing.
Writing poetry by hand helps to create a direct line between the poet and their work. It is a powerful tool that allows poets to create unique and powerful works. Typing poetry on computer software also has its own benefits, such as being able to save and store one’s work electronically, as well as being able to edit it quickly and collaboratively.
Using either of the written forms to write poetry gives the poet a sense of ownership and experience of the work. It helps to make the poem more impactful and meaningful.
Form
Form is another characteristic which is unique to poetry. Poetry has a varied range of forms, from sonnets and haikus to villanelles and sestinas. These forms have been used throughout literature, with some becoming more well-known than others.
The use of forms helps to create structure and give a sense of purpose to a poem. It gives the poet something to work against, creating a challenge and helping to engage the reader. It also allows the poet to express their ideas in a creative, but structured way.
Forms can also help to restrict the poet in certain ways, forcing them to challenge their ideas and craft them into lines of poetry. It is a unique way to create tension and structure when writing and helps to create a pleasing framework for the poem.
Speaker
Speaker is an important literary feature of poetry. It is often used to craft a unique voice or perspective in a poem. It refers to the assumed speaker or author of the poem and can take any form, from an abstract voice to a voice of a character or even a persona of the poet.
The voice used in a poem can help to create a distinctive atmosphere. It guides the reader in the understanding of a poem and can be used to express powerful and emotive ideas. It can also be used to challenge and debate; with speakers often taking a critical, political or even satirical perspective.
Speaker helps to create a personal connection between the poet, the poem and the reader. It can be used to create empathy and to affect change, something which cannot be done with other literary forms.
Allegory
Allegory is an important technique in poetry, used to add a deeper layer of meaning to the reader’s interpretation. An allegory is a form of figurative language, one which uses symbols and metaphors to represent an idea or concept.
One of the most famous allegorical works of poetry is John Milton’s Paradise Lost. The poem is a symbolic representation of the fall of mankind and is filled with detailed allegorical imagery and language. Allegories are often used to present moral lessons and illustrate ideas which are not easily expressed.
Allegory can be used to express powerful messages and to explore complex topics in an engaging way. It is an important tool used to craft an interpretation of a poem, creating an experience that other literary forms cannot offer.
