University of Lahore (Gujrat

Campus)

Assignment:
Introduction to Literature
& One
Submitted By:
Sara Ilyas
Submitted To:
Sir. Adnan
Sap ID:
70076272
Department:
BS English (2)
Topic:
 Introduction to Poetry:
~*~*~*~*~*~

Poetry:
Poetry is the mother of all arts. There are different definitions of poetry. The highest
type/rank of poetry in English literature is ‘Epic’.

Definitions:
 William words worth regards poetry as the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.
 The language which is not prose is poetry.
 Poetry deals with imagination.

Types of poetry:
There are three different types of poetry.
 Classical poetry
 Romantic poetry
 Modern poetry

Ideas of literature:
 Classical literature
 Classical poetry
Classical Literature:
The literature which is written by Romans and Greeks is called classical literature.
 Poetry
 Drama
 Philosophy
Poetry is the mixture of two cultures.
 Roman
 Greek
Classical Poetry:
 Classical poetry was written by Greek and Roman poets.

Names of Classical Poets:

 Dante (Roman)
 Virgil (Roman) writes Epic (Anied).
 Homar (Greek) writes Movie (The War of Troy) on The Odyssey & Illied
 Petrarch (Roman) writes Sonnets. Also known as the Father of Italian Sonnet
 Pindar (Greek) Originator of Odes (to address something).
 Boccaccio (Roman) writes Narrative Poetry.

English Classical Poetry:

Q: Why is English poetry called classical poetry?
Ans: English classical poetry is the copy/imitation of classical poetry that’s why English
classical poetry is called Classical poetry.

Names of English Classical Poets:

Following are the names of English Classical Poets.
 Geoffrey Chaucer (copies the writing style of Boccaccio).
 Master William Shakespear (also imitates the poetic style of Petrarch).
 John Milton (copies the writing style of Virgil, Homar and Dante (Divine Comedian).
 Alexander Pope
 Edmand Spenser (Virgil, Homar & Dante breaks the tradition. They imitate the style of
classical poets (Greek & Roman).
 John Donne (classical poet).
 Henry Howard
 Thomas Wyatt
 Thomas Sick well

Two Legendary Epic Poets:

 Virgil:(wrote Anied).
 Homar: (wrote The Odyssey, The War of Troy & Ilied)
 Petrarch: (Unlike the majority of classical poets. He introduced his own style of writing
in which he writes, songs & rhymes. Henry Wyatt are the fathers of English sonnets.
They also copy the style of Petrarch.
 Alexander Pope: (also idealizes Virgil, Homar & Dante in his work. ‘The Rape of
Lock’)
 Geoffrey Chaucer: (writes the Prologue (introduction) to the ‘Canterberry Tales’)
 John Milton: (‘Paradise Lost’ Paradise Regains’)
  William Shakespear: (‘Shakespearian sonnets. He wrote 154 sonnets. They can be
divided into 3 parts 1st (1-17) 2nd (18-126) 3rd (126-154).
 Edmand Spencer: (‘The Fairy Queen’)

Fathers of English Sonnets:

 Henry Howard.
 Thomas Wyatt.

Q: What does the Roman ‘Vates’ mean in an apology for poetry?

Ans: The ancient Roman paid high respect to the poet by calling him “Vates” which means a
‘Prophet of Foreseer’ and ‘A Diviner’. The origin word is ‘Poiein’ and this means ‘to make’
poiein is derived from Greek language.

Q: Differentiate b/w poem and poetry?

Ans: The early philosophers who were poets they reckon(understand) poetry is the use of
letters, words and language to build a writer’s feelings and thoughts. Whereas a poem is the
arrangement of these words. In addition, poetry is the procedure of creating a literary peace using
metaphor, symbols and ambiguity. Whereas a poem is the end result of a procedure.

Q: What are the types of poetry?

Ans: According to Sir. Philip Sydney there are three types of poetry which he discusses in an
apology for poetry. These are narrative, grammatic and lyrical. He also shuts lights three other
kinds of poetry Callen:
 Religious poetry
 Philosophical poetry
 Poetry as an imaginative treatment of life and nature.
He calls special attention to the third type of poetry and regards poets who writes poetry with the
power of imagination.

Poetry in English:
Poetry is a type of literature which is built on the interplay of words and rhythm. These
poems however, still have rhythmic qualities and seek to create beauty through their words. The
opposite to poetry is ‘Prose’.

Mother of all lines:

Plato says that poetry is the mother of all the lines.

Q: Define Epic poetry and its significance in English literature?

Ans: Epic poetry is having the highest rank in English poetry. When we see classical poetry, we
come to know that, to write Epic is the fashion of classical poets like Homar, Virgil and Dante.
When we define epic, as epic is a long narrative poem. It deals with grandeur themes; it shows
war between two powerful forces. It also begins with the invocation of Muse. It shows the heroic
characteristics of a hero. It brings the idea of underworld journey of supernatural elements or
epic machinery which comprises spirits, fairies, Gods, Goddesses etc.
The Odyssey (Homar) (24 Books)
 The Illied (Homar) (24 Books)
 The Anied (Virgil) (12 Books)
 The Divine Comedia (Gabriel Dante) (5 ½ Books)
 The Fairy Queen (Edmund Spenser) (5 ½ or 6 ½ Books) it is also an incomplete epic.
 Paradise Region (John Milton) (it also carries many books)
 Hebron (John Keats) (6 1/2Books)
 Paradise Lost (John Milton) (12 Books)
 Beowulf (Anonymous) (incomplete 5 1/2Books)
 The Rape of the Lock (Alexander Pope) (5 canters (A series of part of a book)
 Hyperion (John Keats).

Q: Define the significance of poetic meter in English poetry?

Ans: English literature is based on the pillars of Greek and Roman poetry. Aristotle's poetics
regards epic poetry as the highest form/type of poetry in his famous work ‘Poetics’.
In Paradise Lost we can see two main characters God and Satan or Adam and Eve.
According to Bible (The first sin was committed by the mother of mankind).
In Illied Achille and Hector are two characters and there is a conflict between two powerful
forces.
Hector Utters: (Belongs to Greek (Troy is capital of Greek)
“Listen attentively and write attentively”
And Achille: (belongs to Sparta)
“Hear me Greek, here I am Hector. The defender of ‘Troy’ who challenges you before
your Man and God. I will suck your heart and split your blood in forces of your slaves”
Achille respond and in respond he kills Hector and he drags his dead body and speaks loudly!
“I killed Hector and I will be buried Troy”
It shows the conflict/war between two powerful forces. When Paradise Lost begins then the
Satan was burring in the fire of Hell. Every epic is enriched with the epic/supernatural
machinery.
 Significance of Poetic Meter in Poetry
 Feet/Foot in English poetry.
 Meter/Poetic meter.
 Different meters on the base of feet in a poetic line.

Figurative language:(consonants)
Figurative language means when we talked about poetic techniques or consonants. The
use of simile, personification, alternation, metaphors, illustration, ambiguity etc.
It also highlights the use of meter in English poetry every poet uses diverse poetic techniques in
his or her poetry.
Metaphor is the language of poetry and drama monometer.

Foot:
“A foot has one strong syllable. It has one or more weak syllables. If there are two or more
syllables in a poetic line, it reveals the idea of feet”

Feet:
“A group consisting of one or more weak and strong syllable usually called feet”
1 feet is equal to monometer. Where we see modern English, there is a line once.
1st is weak and 2nd is strong Di-Dum.

Meter:
Meter in poetry consists of one or more feet in a poetic line and the patterns are designee can
be discussed on the base of numbers feet in a line.
Reoccurrence of same sound is called rhythm. It is the arrangement of stressed and unstressed
sounds. It gives musical quality to poetry and it is as necessary as soul in a body. If there is one
feet in a poetic line it is equal to ‘Monometer’
If there are two feet in poetic line the poet uses ‘Diameter’
If there are three feet in a poetic line poet uses ‘Trimeter’
Four feet ------ Tetra-meter.
Five feet ------ Penta-meter
Six feet ----- Hexa-meter
Seven feet ----- Hepta-meter
Eight feet ----- Octa-meter
In English poetry mostly English poets uses Pentameter.

Syllable:
Syllable is an utterance. It reveals the condition of stress and unstress.

Major types of Meter

 Iambic meter
 Trochee meter
 Anapest meter
 Dactyl meter
Iambic:
The sound of iambic consists of two syllables. The first is unstressed/unaccented and the
other is stressed/accented. So, it sounds like Di-Dum.
There is a feet and that feet carries the idea of two syllables. 95% poets in English poetry
uses Iambic pentameter.

Trochee:
It is quite opposite to Iambic. The trochee begins with the stressed syllable and follows by
an unstressed syllable it seems an opposite to Iamb and its classification is stressed and
unstressed. It is Di-Dum.
If the sound is stressed and unstressed it wil be Dum-Di. Trochee follows trochee Diameter.

Anapest:
It comprised two unstressed and one stressed syllable Di-Di-Dum. If there are two
unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable, is also called anti-dactyl. And its
sound is Di-Di-Dum.
If you are able to tackle the idea of poet it means anapest monometer.
Anapest diameter.
Anapest tri-meter.....

Dactyl:
A dactyl has one stressed followed by two unstressed syllables.it sounds like Dum-Di-Di.
Its qualification is 1st stressed and last two sounds unstressed syllables. As it is quiet opposite
to anapest and its sound is Dum-Di-Di.

Figurative language:
 Figurative language in poetry reflects the use of different poetic techniques, which are
used by the poets in order to establish a poem. These techniques are the backbone of a poem. The
poet uses these techniques in every poem.
Following are the types of poets:
 Classical poets
 Romantic poets
 Modern poets

Classical poets:
Geoffrey Chaucer, Henry Howard, Thomas Wyatt, William Shakespeare, John Milton,
John Donne, Edmand Spencer.

Romantic poets:
William Blake, John Keats, P.B Shelley, William Wordsworth, Robert Browning,
Mathew Arnold, Alfred Tennyson.

Modern poets:
Seamus Heaney, Philip Larkin, Ted Hughes, W.B Yeats.
These all developed the following poetic techniques in their poetry. These poetic techniques are:

Poetic Techniques:
 Simile
 Metaphor
 Personification
 Alliteration
 Satire
 Wit
 Irony
 Humor
 Apostrophe
 Allusion
 Conceit etc.

Classical poets:
Classical poets clearly used figurative language in their poetry.

Romantic poets:
Romantic poets write romantic type of poetry.
Modern poets:
T.S Eliot is known as the father of modern poetry.
Modern poetry clearly highlights the deterioration of world war 1 & 2. WW1 was taken place
between (1914-19180). In this war we have two Allied forces that includes Italy, Britain, France,
America and Japan. And on the other hand, Germany, Australia, Turkey, Bulgaria and other
minor forces.

Define Simile?
A simile is a comparison between two objects, which is signaled out by the use of as and Like.
For example;
 My mother is as beautiful as Hellen of Troy.
 Pakistani army is like lion in a jungle.
 His eyes are as sharp as the rays of the sun.

Define Metaphor?
A metaphor is a direct comparison between two objects. It does not carry as and like.
For example;
 You are Tipu Sultan.
 I am Hellen of Troy.
 My father is a Tree.

Define Personification?
Personification is a figure of speech in which in-animate(non-living) objects or obstraction are
endowed with human qualities.
For example;
 Sylvian Historian who cannot express.
 Love conquers all.
 The train snores.
 The air jumps.

Define Satire?
Satire is also a poetic or figure of speech used by many English poets like Geoffrey Chaucer,
William Blake, W.B Yeats, and Alexander Pope. It is used to make fun of someone in order to
correct it.

Define Irony?
Irony is a humorous perception of inconsistency, in which an apparently straight forward
statement or event takes place.

Types of Poetry:
There are three types of poetry.
 Classical Poetry.
 Romantic Poetry.
 Modern Poetry.

Classical Poetry:
The characteristics of classical poetry are:
 Classical poetry follows strict rules and regulations.
For example:
The poets like Geoffrey Chaucer, Henry Howard, Thomas Wyatt, William Shakespeare,
John Donne Edmand Spencer etc.
Classical poetry is full of thoughts and passion of most of the classical poets.
The following classical poets have passion and thought in their poetry.
Canterberry Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.
The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope.
154 Sonnets by William Shakespeare.
 Wyatt define classical poetry as it is a clever use of language. Like Geoffrey Chaucer and
Alexander Pope uses it in their poetry.
 Conceit can be the central idea or characteristics of poetry. It is like Smillie and
comparison between two unlike things.
The use of conceit is mostly used by John Donne.
 John Donne uses this concept in his love and divine songs like in Elizabethan topics.
 Mostly classical poets use Greek and Roman references in their poetry.
Romantic Poetry:
The characteristics of romantic poetry are following:
 Romantic poetry is the use of nature. The poets use nature as the main theme in their
poetry are John Keats, William Wordsworth etc.
 Mostly romantic poets use supernatural elements in their poetry. Like romance with
nature. William words worth shows romance with nature in his poem The Rain.
 When we talk about P.B Shelley he uses Ghost as supernatural elements in his poetry.
 It is subline.
 It is a reaction against Neo-classical poetry
  The core element in romantic poetry is that, it highlights the use of imagination. It talkes
the reader to the world of Revival.
For example:
William Wordsworth uses his poem the Daffodils. It has imagination with the dancing
love or daffodils.
S.T Coleridge uses in Kubla Khan and in Literary Biographia.
S.T Coleridge tells two type of imagination.
 Primary imagination.
 Secondary imagination.
John Keats Poetry:
 Out to Nighting Mai
 Out on Grasian earth
 Out to Autumn
Elements:
There are two elements that romantic poets use in their poetry. He considers (Nature is God &
God is Nature).
 Pantheism
 Hellenism

Pantheism:
Which means that we search God in every element of nature.
 Use of imagination in romantic poetry is called pantheism. William Wordsworth is also
called Pantheist.
 The concept of supernaturalism/
 Most romantic poets use Odes in their poetry.
Pindar is the first originator of odes in English romantic poetry.
Some poets use sad feelings in their poetry such as Millen Colly and P.B Selley. In many
writings of Shelley, he expresses sad feelings such as:
o Ode to West Wing.
o Him to intellectual beauty.
Hellenism:
“Use the beauty of Greek art and civilization”
“Ode to Grecian Urn”
“Without imagination romantic poetry is nothing”
Modern Poetry:
 T.S Eliot is regarded as the father of modern poetry.
 It is a comparison between romantic and classical poetry.
 It includes World War 1&2. This era begins in 1772 and ends in 1832.
 There are two phases of romantic poetry.
o Early Romantic
o Late Romantic (Victorian age)
Publication of Lyrical Ballad:
It was the combine work of S.T Coleridge and William Wordsworth from 1772 to
1778.
Three major groups of romantic poets.
o Lake Poets
o Scott Poets
o Younger Poets
Younger Poets: (Die before 30)
John Keats, P.B Shelley, Lord Barren. They have their own significance.
Lake Poets:
It includes the poet of nature like William Wordsworth.
Scott Poets:
It includes two type poets like S.T Coleridge and Robert Southey.
From 1832-1900:
These poets are labeled as Victorian poets. They follow the style of romantic poets ike:
o Alfered Tennyson
o Robert Browning
o Elizebeth Arnold
Basically, this is the main difference between romantic and Victorian era.
Phases of Modern Poetry:
 1st phase (1906-1916)
 2nd phase (1917-1929)
 3rd phase (1930-196/1970) Modern era.
Characteristics of Modern Poetry:
 It is repelled with different themes like technologies, destruction, scientific theories.
 Realism Modern poetry shows real life incidents.
 Pessimism Nature which is real in Tooth and Lock.
 Humanitarian and Democratic these poets are
o T.S Eliot
o Philip Larkin
o Ted Hughes
o Seamus Heaney
o W.B Yeats
 The time period of Philip Larkin is known as Movement Era.
 T.S Eliot is the father of modern poetry and his remarkable work is the Waste Land in
phase 1 of modern poetry. His writings were:
o The Hollow Man
o The Love song of J.Alfered Prufrock.