Literary Terms

Abigail Bond

Introduction

There are many terms that hold importance when it comes to literary study. Of the many terms, five will be introduced and defined. In addition to the introduction and definitions, the history and culture will be discussed. Poems that include examples of each literary term will be referenced as well.

“Literary terms refer to the technique, style, and formatting used by writers and speakers to masterfully emphasize, embellish, or strengthen their compositions.“
Literary Terms

Terms and Definitions

Ode

“a lyric poem characterized by a serious topic and formal pattern in which the speaker talks about, and often to, an especially revered person or thing.”

Ballads

“a verse narrative that is, or originally was, meant to be sung.”

Rhyme

“repetition or correspondence of the terminal sounds of words.”

Lyric Poems

“meant to be sung to the accompaniment of a lyre; now, any relatively short poem in which the speaker expresses his other thoughts and feelings in the first person rather than recounting a narrative or portraying a dramatic situation.”

Stanza

“a section of a poem, marked by extra line spacing before and after, that often has a single pattern of meter and/or rhyme.”

Ode

“A lyric poem characterized by a serious topic and formal pattern in which the speaker talks about, and often to, an especially revered person or thing.”

Historical Background

The ode originated in Ancient Greece, in 518 ? 442 BC. It was first written by the poet Pindar, from Thebes. It was performed by a chorus, in a pattern with three stanzas (strophe, antistrophe and epode). It was named the “Pindaric Ode” after him.

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To Autumn

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
John Keats

Full Poem

Culture

In addition to the Pindaric ode, there are 2 other types. The Roman poet Horace created the Horation ode, which was meant for reading and theatrics. The Horatian ode differs from the Pindaric ode in both pattern (regular, recurrent stanza), as well as cultural impact. The Pindaric ode was used for more “ceremonious” causes, whereas the Horatian is for pure enjoyment. There is a third type of ode, the Irregular ode, an example is referenced above in John Keats, To Autumn.

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Ballads

“a verse narrative that is, or originally was, meant to be sung.”

History

Ballads originated in Europe, but weren’t being printed until the Renaissance, in the 15th century in England. Many people wrote ballads and sold them as well, but were labelled “pot poets”, so a ballad author wasn’t considered a respectable occupation. That changed in the 19th century, however.

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The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

It is an ancient mariner
And he stoppeth one of three.
—”By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stoppest thou me?
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Full Poem

Culture

Ballads were “European Folk Tradition” and until they were printed, they were shared throughout the generations of families orally, only. These ballads usually involved “religious themes, love, tragedy, domestic crimes, and sometimes even political propaganda”. After ballads were printed, ballad authors were not treated with much respect. It wasn’t until the 19th century that they gained admiration from the public. Samuel Taylor Coleridge was, and still is, famous for his The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (referenced above).

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Rhyme

“repetition or correspondence of the terminal sounds of words.”

History

The earliest evidence of rhyme being used was in Chinese Literature, specifically the Shi Jing in 10th century B.C.E. The earliest it was recognized in European poetry was in the 7th or 8th century. European poetry was filled with rhyme from the 12-20th century.

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Two Worlds

It makes no difference abroad,
The seasons fit the same,
The mornings blossom into noons,
And split their pods of flame.
Emily Dickinson

Full Poem

Culture

Although the earliest rhyme was in Chinese literature, it is no longer rhyme due to the evolution of the language and pronunciation. Rhyme is still used throughout the 20th century and today.

Lyric Poems

History

Lyrical poems were first documented in Greece. They generally would be written about “love, desire, suffering, and patriotism”. Pindar was one of the more popular lyrical poets, alone with a poet called Sappho.

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Sappho 31

He seems like the gods’ equal, that man, who
ever he is, who takes his seat so close
across from you, and listens raptly to
your lilting voice
Sappho

Full Poem

Culture

Lyrical poems that were choral were performed at ceremonies, usually religious ones. The monodies would be performed in smaller, more “private gatherings”.

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Stanza

“a section of a poem, marked by extra line spacing before and after, that often has a single pattern of meter and/or rhyme.”

History

Stanza’s aren’t found in history, specifically. They are the paragraph equivalent for poetry. They are used to create space between each stanza, like it states in the definition. There are 5 different types of stanza, they are linked below.

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I Measure Every Grief I Meet

I measure every Grief I meet
With narrow, probing, Eyes–
I wonder if It weighs like Mine–
Or has an Easier size.
Emily Dickinson

Full Poem

Ballad of Birmingham

“Mother dear, may I go downtown
Instead of out to play,
And march the streets of Birmingham
In a Freedom March today?”

“No, baby, no, you may not go,
For the dogs are fierce and wild,
And clubs and hoses, guns and jails
Aren’t good for a little child.”

“But, mother, I won’t be alone.
Other children will go with me,
And march the streets of Birmingham
To make our country free.”

“No, baby, no, you may not go,
For I fear those guns will fire.
But you may go to church instead
And sing in the children’s choir.”

She has combed and brushed her night-dark hair,
And bathed rose petal sweet,
And drawn white gloves on her small brown hands,
And white shoes on her feet.

The mother smiled to know her child
Was in the sacred place,
But that smile was the last smile
To come upon her face.

For when she heard the explosion,
Her eyes grew wet and wild.
She raced through the streets of Birmingham
Calling for her child.

She clawed through bits of glass and brick,
Then lifted out a shoe.
“Oh, here’s the shoe my baby wore,
But, baby, where are you?”

-Dudley Randall

Terms Used

For this poem, the terms that were used for this would be both ballad and rhyme. This poem is a ballad, which also includes a rhyme scheme. The ballad is a sad one, with the rhyme helping the words flow and hold a steady pace.

History

This was a tragic historical event that occurred 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama. Children were killed and many injured.

Poem Analysis

This poem holds great emotion and the historical background holds a lot of sentiment as well. This is a tragic historical event that took place in a place where people should be able to go and feel safe. A church should be a sacred place of worship, not a place of massacre. Disturbingly, this was the reality for 4 innocent children who lost their lives on that fateful day 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama.

This poem shows the tensions between mother and daughter, the common back and forth conversation where the child wants to go out, but mom is too scared for her well being. The daughter resigns herself to going out to the church, instead of the march she pleaded with her mom to go to. Her mother, scared for her safety, wanted her daughter in a safe place so off to church she went.

There is also a reference to the racial tensions at that were occurring during this time. The phrasing that says “little brown hands” and “dark hair” are telling words that this young girl is black. As a black child, she had wanted to fight against the injustices that were targeting her black community. Even though she avoided marching the streets in order to make a change, she still lost her life. Her ethnicity played a part in her tragic death.

A mother only wants what’s best for her children, she wants them to be safe. What can she do other than keep her children out of harms way, or at least try. How can a mother even try when a holy place is not even safe for her child to go. How will she be able to keep her babies safe?

End.