Types of Poetry

There are three main types of poetry; narrative, dramatic and lyrical. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between them. For instance, a narrative poem may contain some elements of a lyrical poem and vice versa.

Because of the multiplicity of poems in the genre, it is convenient to classify poems under narrative, dramatic and lyrical poetry.

1. Narrative Poetry:

The name implies its type. This kind of poetry tells a story. e.g. The epic poem.

Epic: This is a long poem that narrates the heroic deeds of a great person, a group or events that form the cultural history of a societyThe term society is derived from the Latin word 'socius' meaning friendship or companionship. Society is a community, nation or group of people who share the same traditions, institutions, rules and... More. The epic excels in courage.

2. Dramatic Poetry:

The name also implies the meaning. “Drama” involves characters and actions. This kind of poetry involves speakers. The speakers act out roles and must not be identified with the poet. When a speaker is only involved and the poem is his/her speech, it is referred to as a dramatic monologue. Types of dramatic poetry include dramatic monologue, soliloquy, character sketch, and dialogue.