Historical Poetry Genres

The Iliad is an ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer, describing the siege of Troy.

A narrative poem tells a story, often with a clear plot and characters.

Ode to Joy is a lyric poem by Friedrich Schiller, later set to music by Ludwig van Beethoven in his Ninth Symphony.

A dramatic poem is intended to be performed or recited aloud, often with dialogue and stage directions.

Romeo and Juliet is a dramatic poem by William Shakespeare, written in the form of a tragedy.

A lyric poem reflects on the poet's own thoughts and feelings, often using personal language and imagery.

Leaves of Grass is a collection of free verse poems by Walt Whitman, published in 1855.

Blank verse is a poem that uses a regular meter, typically iambic pentameter, but does not rhyme.

Paradise Lost is a blank verse epic poem by John Milton, published in 1667.

A stanzaic poem uses a specific rhyme scheme, such as ABAB or ABBA, throughout the poem.

The Raven is a stanzaic poem by Edgar Allan Poe, published in 1845.

A mock epic is a poem that tells a story in a humorous or satirical way, often by imitating the style of a traditional epic poem.

The Rape of the Lock is a mock epic poem by Alexander Pope, published in 1712.

An ode is a poem that is written in praise of a person, place, or thing.

Ode to a Nightingale is an ode written by John Keats in 1819.