Ode, Elegy, and Other Poetic Forms in Literature
Ode, Elegy, and Other Poetic Forms
Ode
An ode is a poem that expresses a strong sentiment about a specific subject. It originated with Romanticism and is characterized by its focus on the author’s inner world, rather than adhering to strict metrics or verse structures.
Common Themes in Odes
- The Pleasant Place (‘locus amoenus’): Description of a serene and beautiful landscape (e.g., green meadow, stream, flowers, trees, singing birds).
- The ‘Beatus Ille’: Praise of rural life over urban life.
- The Description of the Young (‘descriptio puellae’): Expression of the ideal feminine beauty (e.g., blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin, red lips).
- Fire and Love: Depiction of love as a burning and eternal flame.
- The Passage of Time: Reflection on the fleeting nature of time.
- The ‘Ubi Sunt?’ (“Where are they?”): Questioning the fate of worldly things that have vanished over time (e.g., physical beauty, palaces, estates).
Rhyme
- Rhyme: Repetition of sounds at the end of two lines.
- Consonance: Repetition of consonants.
- Assonance: Repetition of vowels.
- Blank Verse: Unrhymed iambic pentameter.
- Free Verse: Poetry without rhyme or consistent meter.
Composition
Ode composition has its roots in troubadour poetry, which was typically accompanied by music and often focused on love.
Other Poetic Forms
- Eclogue: A poem where the poet expresses their feelings through shepherds in an idealized natural setting, often exploring themes of love and sorrow.
- Elegy: A mournful poem expressing grief over the loss of a loved one or a collective tragedy.
- Epigram: A short, witty poem, often satirical, that comments on morals, politics, or society.
- Epithalamium: A lyrical poem celebrating a wedding couple.
- Hymn: A lyrical composition of religious origin (e.g., Psalms).
More Poetic Themes
- The ‘Carpe Diem’: An exhortation to seize the present moment.
- The ‘Homo Viator’: A view of human life as a journey from birth to death.
- The ‘Flumen Vitae’: A view of life as a river flowing towards the sea (death).
- The ‘Aegritudo Amoris’ (“Love Sickness”): The concept of love as a болезнь causing sadness, loss of appetite, insomnia, etc.
Literary Review
A literary review is a critical assessment of a written work, supported by evidence and specific examples. Its purpose is to inform the reader whether the book is worth reading. Regardless of whether the reader has read the book, the review should provide information about its content and present the critic’s opinion.
Review Elements
- Title: Is it effective and relevant?
- Genre: Drama, novel, poetry, etc.?
- Viewpoint: Who is the narrator? First or third person?
- Structure: How is the story told? Chronological or non-linear?
- Subject: What is the main theme or topic?
- Argument: Briefly summarize the plot.
- Characters: Who are the main characters? Do they develop? Are they relatable?
- Style and Language: Is the language engaging? How complex is it? Who is the target audience?
- Ending: Is it satisfying and consistent with the plot and characters?
- Other Aspects: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the work?
Example: The Tell-Tale Heart
The Tell-Tale Heart is a story that places us directly into the mind of a madman who commits a premeditated murder. Poe, through the murderer’s perspective, describes the crime and the killer’s delusion of executing the perfect crime. The victim is an innocent old man whose eye haunts the madman to the point of obsession. The narrative explores the killer’s descent into madness and the eventual unraveling of his plan.
Note: This example demonstrates how to analyze a specific literary work within the context of the broader discussion of poetic forms and literary reviews.