First Assigned Question - What Is Poetry?
Poetry is a genre of literature older than any written language, because language is originally, found to be an oral tradition. Poetry is comprised of words that often 'see' and 'speak about' more than a passing thought or a surface look at the subject of the poem. Poetry is therefore, not written without an objective in the mind of the composer, and it seeks to capture the reader's or audience's imagination.
Poetry is often able to express what is behind what is seen with the eyes alone, and 'sees' with the eyes of imagination, and sometimes with the eyes of wisdom. The words of poetry often give intricate details that draw pictures, like snapshots, in the reader's imagination. The words of poetry try to capture what is in the imaginative thought and/or feeling of the writer about particular idea(s). The ideas expressed cover the whole range of human drama. Poets, through poetry, are neither afraid to show the 'dark side' of humanity, nor to tackle ideas that may be the highest ideals of the human imagination. The subject of poetry could be about a person, an object, an ideal or an expression of human feeling.
The sound of the human voice reading or singing poetry, whether by another person, or by oneself, can trigger different human and personal responses. The response may be an emotional one that touches upon human nature and emotion. The response may cause the reader's imagination to reflect on something previously or presently experienced in their own life and be given words that seem to describe this almost to perfection.
Because of personal identification, poetry often has the effect of letting a reader know that they are not alone in what they have experienced or thought about. Poetry can foster community. It may give expression to the social culture of a particular time and place, or it may give expression to the larger human struggle to understand life and its meaning. In this way, the response is one of awakening a reader to a new and deeper way of observing and thinking about objects, people, or life itself.
Poetry is often able to express what is behind what is seen with the eyes alone, and 'sees' with the eyes of imagination, and sometimes with the eyes of wisdom. The words of poetry often give intricate details that draw pictures, like snapshots, in the reader's imagination. The words of poetry try to capture what is in the imaginative thought and/or feeling of the writer about particular idea(s). The ideas expressed cover the whole range of human drama. Poets, through poetry, are neither afraid to show the 'dark side' of humanity, nor to tackle ideas that may be the highest ideals of the human imagination. The subject of poetry could be about a person, an object, an ideal or an expression of human feeling.
The sound of the human voice reading or singing poetry, whether by another person, or by oneself, can trigger different human and personal responses. The response may be an emotional one that touches upon human nature and emotion. The response may cause the reader's imagination to reflect on something previously or presently experienced in their own life and be given words that seem to describe this almost to perfection.
Because of personal identification, poetry often has the effect of letting a reader know that they are not alone in what they have experienced or thought about. Poetry can foster community. It may give expression to the social culture of a particular time and place, or it may give expression to the larger human struggle to understand life and its meaning. In this way, the response is one of awakening a reader to a new and deeper way of observing and thinking about objects, people, or life itself.
posted by maggiesong at 6:51 PM
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