7/27/2019 Lyric Poetry Definition and Examples (1)

1/3

Lyric Poetry Definition and Examples: Lyric is non-narrative, short poem that reveals the speakers personal feeling, emotion, mode,

state of mind, expression, thought, attitude, perception etc. in a first person

narrative. Lyric poetry does not tell any story, rather it is very personal andsolely focused on the speakers personal feeling and ideas. Lyric poetry does not

address wider public. The speaker in a Lyric poem always uses first person. Forexample, I, My love etc. So, in Lyric poetry, the speaker directly addresses the

readers, invoking his own personal feeling and expressions.

The word Lyric comes from the Greek word Lyre, a stringed musical instrument.

Initially, Lyric poem was meant to be sung and poets were used to singing Lyric in aLyre. Originally, Lyric poet tends to be musical and suits to music very well and

musicality is one of the characteristics of Lyric. However, over the time, the meaning of

Lyric has been changed and it does no longer mean music. Rather, Lyric poetry is nowlargely meant for reading.

Explanation of the speakers intense emotion, thought and feeling is the main purpose of

Lyric poetry. That is why, some critics say that you do not hear Lyric poem; rather, you

overhear Lyric poem. Among the different kinds of Lyric poetry, 14-line Sonnet is mostpopular. Some otherforms of Lyric poetry are Ode, Elegy etc. For the last 500 years,

Lyric has been the most popular form of poetry in the world.

Lyric Poetry: highly musical verse that expresses the speaker's feelings and

observations. In ancient times poems were sung with accompaniment from a lyre.

Modern lyric poems, although usually not sung, still posses musical qualities--rhythm, rhyme, alliteration, and onomatopoeia. Examples of lyric poems include

"The Eagle" by Alfred Lord Tennyson, "The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe, and "I

Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth.

Lesson Ideas

1. Instruct students to write about something beautiful they have seen.Convert this scene into a lyric poem, using the elements of poetry.

2. Read a lyric poem. Instruct students to imitate the style and write a lyricpoem of their own

3. Read a short story containing a vivid description. Convert that descriptioninto a lyric poem

4. Write a lyric poem about a shoe, but make it sound like death

5. Write an apology letter to a friend with whom you had a fight amd convertthe letter into a lyric poem

http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/48542.aspxhttp://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/48542.aspx

7/27/2019 Lyric Poetry Definition and Examples (1)

2/3

Co n fess io n Exerc iseN/LWrite a poem in which you confess to a crime you didnt commit. You can create the circumstances perhaps youre talking to a priest, or youre being interrogated by police. Turn your confession into anarrative poem in which you describe the events leading up to your crime.

Bo d y Par t Exerc iseLWrite a poem addressed to a particular body part. Make sure you maintain a consistent tone and focus.

Co n st ru c t io n Exerc iseN/LWrite a poem in which you literally build or take apart something for the reader. Describe each step of theprocess for the reader, incorporating technical terms and descriptions of materials. Create a lyric ornarrative poem that shows the reader how its done.

Al l i t e ra t io n Exerc iseALL

Make a list of twenty phrases that use alliteration, such as the sun settled on the south hill with suddencolor. Pick two or three of these phrases and try to build images around them. Use at least one of theseimages in a poem.

F ear Exerc iseLThink of something you were afraid of as a child. Write a poem in which you describe what it was and how itmade you feel. You can write from the point of view of an older person looking back on it, or you can writefrom the point of view of the child you once were.

In te r io r Mo n o lo g u e Exerc iseL

Write a poem in which you adopt the persona of someone famous (they can be dead or alive). Imagine thisperson sitting alone, looking out over the Grand Canyon at sunrise, reflecting on his or her life. Write a poemin which you convey this persons character through his or her internal thoughts.

New sp ap er Exerc iseN/LRead the newspaper. Pick one story from the paper, and write a poem in which you take on the persona ofsomeone involved in the story. Write a narrative poem in which you tell the story from that persons point ofview.

Perso n i f ica t io n Exerc iseL

Look around your bedroom, kitchen, living room, or bathroom. Make a list of objects that seem to havemoods or personalities. Choose five of them and create a description of each ones personality or mood.Pick one of your descriptions and build a poem around it.

Rep u ls io n Exerc iseLMake a list of things you find repulsive the smell of garbage, fast food employees, people who never shutup, etc. Choose one and write a poem in which you describe that person, place or thing in such a way that itbecomes beautiful.

7/27/2019 Lyric Poetry Definition and Examples (1)

3/3