poetic form types

poetry written with a precise meter—almost always iambic pentameter—that does not rhyme.

In contrast to blank verse, rhymed poems rhyme by definition, although their scheme varies.

poetry that lacks a consistent rhyme scheme, metrical pattern, or musical form.

An epic poem is a lengthy, narrative work of poetry. These long poems typically detail extraordinary feats and adventures of characters from a distant past.

Similar to an epic, a narrative poem tells a story. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” exemplify this form.

A haiku is a three-line poetic form originating in Japan. The first line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables, and the third line again has five syllables.

A pastoral poem is one that concerns the natural world, rural life, and landscapes. These poems have persevered from Ancient Greece (in the poetry of Hesiod) to Ancient Rome (Virgil) to the present day (Gary Snyder).

A sonnet is a 14 line poem, typically (but not exclusively) concerning the topic of love. contain internal rhymes within their 14 lines; the exact rhyme scheme depends on it

reflects upon death or loss

much like an elegy tribute to its subject

is a five-line poem that consists of a single stanza, an AABBA rhyme scheme, and whose subject is a short, pithy tale or description.

refers to the broad category of poetry that concerns feelings and emotion. This distinguishes it from two other poetic categories: epic and dramatic.

a form of narrative verse that can be either poetic or musical. It typically follows a pattern of rhymed quatrains.

A soliloquy is a monologue in which a character speaks to him or herself, expressing inner thoughts that an audience might not otherwise know.

A nineteen-line poem consisting of five tercets and a quatrain, with a highly specified internal rhyme scheme.