Elegy Poem Type
An elegy is a poem type that explores and reflects on themes of loss, mourning, and consolation. Elegiac poetry then is typically meant to grieve the death of a loved one.
Poem Types
Discover poem types. From Abecedarian to Madrigal to Zéjel.
Start here: Poem Types’ Overview
Rhymed Poem Type
A rhymed poem is simply a poem with rhyming sounds or identical sounding final syllables. These rhymes are organized by using a particular rhyming pattern or scheme. There are some varieties of rhyming poetry, including sonnets, nursery rhymes, and limericks.
Cinquain Poem Type
A cinquain is a short five-line, Japanese tanka-inspired poem, created by the American poet Adelaide Crapsey. American cinquains gained popularity in the twentieth century. These five-line verses are also called quintains in the US.
Formal Poem Type
A formal poem is a poem type that follows a strict rhyme or meter pattern. Formal poems are also called metrical poems or metrical verses.
Villanelle Poem Type
A villanelle poem is a poem of French origin, consisting of five three-line verses (tercets) and finally, one four-line stanza (quatrain). The villanelle poem type is a favored poetry form by many poets, especially during the late 16th century.
Metered Poem Type
Metered poetry is simply any poem that is written with a meter. Metered or metrical poetry uses a regular rhythmic pattern of both stressed and unstressed syllables.
Lyric Poem Type
Lyric poetry is one of the oldest forms of literature. Aristotle originally categorized lyric poetry into three groups: dramatic, epic, and lyric. While lyric poems have an interesting overlap with song verses or lyrics, they are not necessarily meant to be sung.
Concrete Poem Type
Concrete poetry is a unique form of poetry in which the words on the page form some meaningful image or shape that complements the poem itself. Concrete poetry is also known as shape poetry.
Blank Verse Poem Type
Blank verse is a poem type that’s usually written with precise meter—usually iambic pentameter—but with unrhymed lines. Playwrights and dramatists from the 1550s developed the use of blank verse in English. That eventually started the wide use of the blank verse poem type in both epic and dramatic poetry.
Epic Poem Type
Epics are long narrative poems that typically tell stories of the glorious deeds of legendary heroes. Epic poetry deals with different subjects, from myths to histories, to religious stories, legends, and even animal tales.
Sonnet Poem Type
A sonnet is a fixed 14-line verse poem that originates from 13th century Italy. The Petrarchan (or Italian) sonnet and the Shakespearean (or English) sonnet are the two principal forms of sonnets.
Haiku Poem Type
Haikus are a short, unrhymed form of poetry that originates from ancient Japan. Although early haiku poem themes typically revolve around nature, it expanded its subject especially in the 19th century when writing haikus was revitalized.
Ballad Poem Type
A ballad is a poem that often tells a story. This narrative form of poetry typically consists of four stanzas and is at times set to music. Ballad poems have many variations, including lyrical ballads, folk ballads, and modern ballads among others.
Pastoral Poem Type
Pastoral poems are known for romanticizing idyllic country life and exploring man’s relationship with nature. A pastoral poem expresses one’s desire or fantasy to enjoy a more peaceful life in the countryside.
Ode Poem Type
An ode is a short version of lyric poetry. Odes were originally sung or chanted with a musical instrument, especially in ancient Greece. Odes are often performed to praise and glorify people, things, or events. Thus, they are typically formal or ceremonial in tone.
Limerick Poem Type
A limerick is a humorous (and often rather irreverent) short five-line poem that utilizes a simple rhyme scheme to punctuate the comedic nature of the poem. They were popularized by Edward Lear, though he did not specifically call his poems limericks.