5 Essential Characteristics Of Poetry

Writing poetry requires that you follow certain guidelines. Poetry is subjective art that allows authors to express themselves in many different ways. Some poems are classic, while others are modern and innovative. Poems don’t have rhyme.

However, the majority of poems have some common characteristics. These are the options that can differ from one poem to another. Here are some characteristics that make poetry great:

1. Figures for Speech

Figurative language, also known as figures of speech, is a way to explain things in a non-literal way. A metaphor, for example, describes something by linking it with another thing. Let’s say that “His touch caused lightning strikes.” This author does not mean that the touch was literal lightning strikes. This is a description of the sensations that were evoked by touch.

Hyperbole is another example. Hyperbole is a common form of figures of speech. It’s used often to exaggerate humorously, which can hint at a deeper truth. Let’s say that “He ran faster then the wind”. This sentence means that the author is implying that the subject ran at the fastest speed.

2. Format and punctuation

Format and punctuation all refer to the way a poem appears on the page. It’s also how you read the poem. You will be required to follow a particular rhythm if the poem has short stanzas or frequent line breaks.

If you arrange the poem in longer lines and with fewer breaks between stanzas, it will have a different rhythm. You can understand the meaning of this poem better if you read it aloud. This would allow you to assess the effect of this format.

3. Visualization

Imagery describes the author’s perceptions, hearings, and/or senses. Imagery can exist in the author’s mind, or it can be actual. Imagery should be concrete. Visual imagery is what an author sees. This is probably the most used form of imagery in poetry. It creates images that readers or listeners can see.

4. Audio and Timbre

The poets of poetry use a variety sounds and tones throughout their poems. This is done in order to alter the sound of the poem. An example of this is alliteration. This happens when multiple words that start with the same letter are repeated. The author might write: “Pretty pugs dance on the promenade.”

The author can choose which letters are used to give the poem a particular sound. Words with soft consonants, such as m or f, can produce a particular sound. This sound will be totally different if you use hard consonants, such as k and d or z.

5. You have many options for meters

Meter refers the pattern or rhythm of speech used to read a poem. This isn’t an accident. Authors may use different meters to create various rhythms. They are also known as the spondaic hexagonal and the iambic pennytameter. These names are used to measure poems. These measurements allow you to break down and analyze the rhythms and meters of poems.

Author

  • emersonmckinney

    Emerson McKinney is a 31-year-old mother and blogger who focuses on education. Emerson has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina. She is currently a stay-at-home mom and blogger who writes about her experiences as a mother and educator. Emerson is also a contributing writer for the Huffington Post.