Poetry as a genre is clearly distinguishable from prose owing to certain characteristics. Poetry is described as heightened form of ordinary language. Intense feelings and emotions take the form of heightened language. “Poetry is ordinary language raised to the Nth power;” ( Engle. In Gardendigest 2). Language is heightened by using technical devices like meter, rhythm and cadence. Poetic language is also heightened by using it figuratively with the help of devices like symbolism, imagery and metaphor. The intense feelings expressed in poetry can be personal or collective emotions shared by a community. Intense subjective love is expressed in the following line:
My love is like a red red rose
An appeal is made in the following lines in Wilfred Owen’s poem ‘Futility’, which points out the futility of war:
Move him into the Sun,
Gently its touch awoke him once.
Rhythm and metaphor work together to create a magical effect in Tennyson’s poem ( The Lotus Eaters):
Music that gentlier on the spirit lies,
Than tired eyelids upon tired eyes.
After a bountiful harvest, a community would express its collective joy through songs. Any words or speech considered to be worth preserving take the form of poetry. The ancient religious texts, the metaphysical speculations of the Aryans in India and Egyptian knowledge of astronomy exist in the form of verses. This mnemonic function of poetry is also evident in chants and religious rituals that are expressed in rhythm. Rhythm has a hypnotic effect which soothes the mind. “Poetry serves to render mental pain bearable by enhancing empathy,” (Akhtar, 2000).
In spite of the changes in diction and form, poetry continues to evoke emotions, inform and instruct by touching the heart, and gives the experience of aesthetic, creative joy in a special way unlike prose.
Poetry emphasizes emotions; it is meant to be interpreted at the symbolic level in order to fulfill its function of giving pleasure to the reader’s mind. It is emotional, so it cannot be rational; hence it cannot be taken at the literal level. It plays an extortive role when circumstances demand. Whatever ideas are expressed in poetry, its emotional congruence is important. The reader responds on the emotional level to ideas expressed in poetry.
Works Cited
Akhtar, Salman. 'Mental Pain And The Cultural Ointment Of Poetry.'. The International journal of psycho-analysis 81 (2000): 229--243. Print.
Gardendigest.com,. 'Poetry: Definitions, Theories, Reflections, Observations, Quips. Part I.'. N.p., 2014. Web. 30 Sept. 2014.
