Types of poetry

Traditional Poem: This is a poem which has its root from the indigenous and oral poem which is often chanted. They are praise songs recited in honor of some heroic persons, animals or events. “Salute of the Elephant” is a good example

A ballad: This is a poem that is presented in form of a song telling old stories.

Ode: This is a long narrative lyrical poem written in form of an address to somebody, ideas or objects. It is often written in celebration of that which it is addressed to. Example “Ode to a Nightingale” by John Keats.

Lyric: This is a poem which directly expresses the poet’s personal emotion of love, sorrow, disappointment or fulfillment. It is highly emotional, full of thoughts and feelings. It could be sung during burial or other ceremonies. It has a regular rhythm with end rhyme

Elegy: This is a poem written in the meditation of any sorrow or ordeal. It is like a dirge but not specifically meant for only the deceased.

Dirge: This is a poem specially written to mourn the dead. It is primarily written to lament the departure of a loved one. “My Jewel is No More” by F.I Akilaki is a good example.

Sonnet: This is a poem of fourteen lines divided into two stanzas of eight lines (octave) and six lines (sestet). A sonnet could also be divided into three stanzas of four lines in the first two stanzas and six lines. It was classically dedicated to the theme of love.

Narrative poem: This is a long poem that tells of story. It gives the details of events and a person whose story it tells.

Epic: This is a poetic account of a hero. It is a poem that narrates the heroic deeds of a people or great man. Epics are usually very voluminous; they are the longest set of poems.

Lullaby: This is a poem of pleasant song chanted in a low gentle voice to lure children to sleep.

Idyll: This is a poetic form of short and idealized story which describes an incident or an interesting event.

Pastoral Poem: This is a poem that describes characters and symbols to represent the speech and action of human being.

Epitaph: This is a poetic inscription on a tomb stone. It is written to express respect or disrespect for the deceased.

Limerick: This is an amusing poem of five lines.

EVALUATION

Write out five types of poetry

TOPICS

ASPECT: SPEECH WORK

TOPIC: Diphthongs (Revision)

Diphthong is a Greek word which means “double sound”. The articulation of diphthongs involves a glide from one vowel quality to the other. A diphthong is therefore a vowel which changes its quality in the process of its articulation.

/ei/ e.g.   gate, cake, take, place, date, gauge etc.

/əᴜ/ e.g.  home, go, owl, own, road, load, coat etc

/ai/ e.g.  high, buy, five, rice, write, kite, fry, price etc.

/au/ e.g.  how, cloud, out, house, blouse, browse etc.

/Ɔi/ e.g.  boy, joy, toy, oil, toil coin, boil etc .

/iə/ e.g.  here, ear, idea, fear, beer ,rear etc.

/eə/ e.g.  air, their, where, hair, fair etc

/ᴜә/ e.g.  during, pure, sure, tour…

EVALUATION

Indicate the diphthong used in the following words e.g. Eye – /ai/

coat –

spy –

point –

tape –

tour –