Everyone may think of a different definition when it comes to poetry, but we are sure that the biggest common point of them will be emotion. Because sometimes a feeling that cannot be explained in volumes of books can be described in a two-line poem, opening the door to unique worlds for the reader. Because of this powerful attitude of poetry, poems have been sung or written since the days when humanity began to express itself verbally.
Poetry, which is one of the oldest types of literature, is also divided into genres within itself. Of course, there are poems that are classified with some technical details, but in this article, we will focus on the types of poetry that are classified according to the subject. Of course, before going into details, it is impossible not to talk about the history of poetry by dwelling on the question of what is poetry. Let’s take a closer look at what poetry is and what its types are.
What is poetry? History, types of poetry and features:
- What is poetry?
- History of poetry
- Types and characteristics of poetry by subject:
- Lyric poetry
- Pastoral poetry
- Epic poetry
- Didactic poetry
- Satirical poetry
- Dramatic poetry
Let’s remember what is poetry?
Poetry in its most basic definition; It is the expression of feelings, thoughts or a dream using a harmonious language with verses that have an order in themselves. There are countless definitions about poetry, which is one of the oldest among the literary genres.
For example, Ahmet Haşim for poetry ‘Poetry that cannot be translated into prose.’ Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı said, “Poetry is the art of forming beautiful shapes with words.” he said. Poem; It can be written in syllabic meter, aruz meter or free meter. The most basic point that distinguishes poetry from prose, among its unique features, is that it has a harmony within itself no matter how it is written.
History of poetry:
The details of the historical journey of poetry, of course, are the subject of another article, but if we need to talk about the first poems in history, it is possible to say Ancient Greece. The word poetry, which means poetry in English, is also of Ancient Greek origin. Even if we encounter the concept of poetry in Ancient Greece, there has always been poetry in history.
When we look at written sources, we find poems engraved in Egyptian hieroglyphs in the 2500s BC. Sumerians in 2000s BC, Akkadians, Hebrews, Chinese, Arabs, Persians, Turks and many more ancient civilizations in 2300s BC applied to poetry to express their feelings and thoughts.
Types of poetry by subject and their characteristics:
- Lyrical poetry
- Pastoral poetry
- Epic poetry
- Didactic poetry
- Satirical poetry
- Dramatic poetry
Lyrical poetry:
Poems in which emotions and thoughts are told using an enthusiastic language called lyric poetry. Such poems were so named in ancient Greece because they were sung with an instrument called a lyre. Its main purpose is to convey intense emotions to the reader and listener.
Example;
Pastoral poetry:
Pastoral poetry, also called shepherd’s poetry, is a type of poetry that describes natural beauties and rural life. In this type of poetry, a simple narrative comes to the fore. It has two basic forms, the idyll written by a shepherd and the eglog written in the form of conversation.
Example;
Epic poetry:
The epic poem, which has an epic narrative and is said to convey intense emotions to the listeners, is derived from the Greek word epope, which means epic. Epic poems generally deal with war stories, heroic stories, and valiant adventures.
Example;
Didactic poetry:
Poems written in order to tell the reader and listener about a certain subject and to give advice are called didactic poetry. Since the main purpose of didactic poems, which are also called ta’limî in our literature, is to be instructive, they may be weak in terms of emotion.
Example;
Satirical poetry:
Poems in which a person, a situation or an event are narrated by the poet in a critical language are called satirical poetry. They have similar features with didactic poems, but satirical poetry has a unique style of expression, as it often criticizes it with a rather sarcastic language.
Example;
Dramatic poetry:
In the 19th century The language used in theater plays until before the theaters switched to plain texts is called dramatic poetry. The plays written and staged by Shakespeare are among the most important examples of dramatic poetry.
Example;
We took a look at its history through the question of what is poetry, which is one of the literary genres that humanity has used most frequently since the day it started to express itself with words, and we explained it with examples by talking about the types of poetry according to their subjects.
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