Form - Poetry
Excerpt from internal documentation (Manuscripts, LLC) and intended for writers in Manuscripts’ programs
Poetry as a medium takes on many forms, and unlike prose can be difficult to fit into one category. Think of poetic forms as being the same as genres in prose. Each poetic form has its own conventions and rules to make it fit that “genre” of poem. First, though, what does form mean?
Poetic Form: Form refers to the format, rhyme scheme, meter, theme, and usage of poetry. It is a way to classify written poems and provide a structure for writing poems. Some forms are “stricter” than others, meaning they have more rules and standards that must be followed to successfully fall into that particular form.
For more information on general poetry terminology, please refer to Poetry Terms.
It’s important to note that the number of poetic forms is too large for a single document to cover. Because of this, the forms below are considered some of the more common forms across the board, as well as what we see the most of here at Creator Institute.
Basic Forms
In poetry, there are three main umbrella forms to consider. These will help you determine the general direction you might want to take when you start to write your poetry. You can think of these in a similar way you think of fiction versus nonfiction. These are big groups that have more specific sub-groups within them, but can also have some overlap in those sub-groups (for example, fiction is the big genre and sci-fi is the subgenre; nonfiction is the big genre and science is the subgenre).
Narrative: This tells a story using prose techniques in a poetic format. The content of the poem aligns more with typical prose, but the format falls firmly into poetry.
“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
“The Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti
Dramatic: This form of poetry is meant to be spoken aloud or recited in a performance. The poetry written in this form doesn’t have to be spoken or performed, but it usually focuses on one character, and sees the world through the lens of that character in order to convey its overall message.
“My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning
“Paradise Lost” by John Milton
“Inferno” by Dante Alighieri
Lyric: The lyrical form is the shortest of the three and is meant to be a visceral snapshot of an emotion or thought process from the speaker’s perspective, which is in most cases the author of the poem. These poems are often rhythmic and pleasing to the ear, and convey a lot of emotion in a small space.
“Upon Julia’s Clothes” by Robert Herrick
“Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven” by W. B. Yeats
“Syntax” by Carol Ann Duffy
