How Do You Define Poetry | Study Coach UK – Morel Benard
If studying GCSE Literature and Poetry Anthology, you will no doubt need to give a definition of poetry and become familiar with the names of famous poets. Edgar Allan Poe, William Wordsworth, William Shakespeare and Maya Angelou amongst many others are famous poets. Shakespeare’s use of language is old and can be difficult to understand but I’m still a fan; Maya Angelou’s writings (stories and poems) are truly inspiring. I am Morel Benard at Study Coach UK and I’m an aspiring Poet. Poetry is classified as literature, a novel and an academic research article are also classified as literature. Comparing two different pieces of literature such as a novel and a poem that are very different in kind is not always wise, its best we accept that though the classification is the same, there are great differences between forms of literature. I will discuss one of Maya Angelou’s poem later on but first let’s consider a definition of Poetry.
Definition of Poetry
Rhythm is certainly a term that is associated with poetry, it is said that poetry is based on the interplay of words and rhythm and that poetry often employs rhyme and a set of rules governing the arrangement of syllables in each line. Poets will string words together to form sounds, evoke feelings to convey their messages.
Haiku Poetry
A haiku is a very short poem, I believe that the origins is Japanese. A Haiku has three short lines that do not rhyme and is arranged in the following way: the first line has 5 syllables, middle line 7 syllables and to complete the Haiku the third line has 5 syllables.
Writing Haiku’s and analysing poetry, identifying themes, verbs, adjectives, similes, writing poetry, are all part of a GCSE literature curriculum. Creative thinking is good for the mind and is helpful in other areas of academic work.
Example of a Haiku
1) Tulips are blooming
2) Sun is out and shining bright
3) Green grass is growing
Learning via Poetry
There is a massive difference between the word count of a poem and the wordage of an academic research article, readers can however still be informed and receive teachings via reading poems. For example, I recently wrote the following entitled Social Capital
Social Capital
Social capital is the name of the game
Players are chosen from an early age
It’s all within families and they keep it tight
Right school, right friendships, made for life
If your an outsider, you must learn to climb
But money is no guarantee you’ll get inside
Money is a different game, it’ll buy you things
It’ll buy the children a latin education and skills
But don’t be surprised when the school gates close
And they try to aim for their corporate life goals
With low social capital they’ll be kept firmly outside
But tell Johnny and Sally not to cry, there’s more to life
(Morel Benard)
My short poem might assist students with their understanding of social capital, particularly if they are new to the subject and need to include some aspect of the concept into their research project or dissertation. The concept of social capital comes from Bourdieu’s work. If readers are unfamiliar with the concept then they might not fully understand the poem, if this is the case, the hope is that the poem will at least get readers to become curious and research the meaning of social capital according to Bourdieu.
Here is a poem titled Entrepreneur, written and spoken by me
Study Coach UK – Morel Benard
Study Coach is here Online to educate and support students on a number of academic subjects. Study Coach has a literacy specialist but we don’t focus on marking creative writing. Morel Benard is a qualified lecturer (MSc, MA, LLB Honours, BSc Honours, PGCE, IQA). Morel is an aspiring poet, hence the Study Coach platform is used to bring awareness to her creative writings. You will find updates of Morel’s poems on the Study Coach ‘Writing Poetry’ page and see a recent blog Study Coach UK Writing Poems, 6 Goodnight Poems by Morel Benard
Writing Poetry
Poetry is a great way to express thoughts, feelings, emotions and present different perspectives on a range of issues. You could write with the aim to inspire and motivate. A student was experiencing bouts of self-doubt, so I wrote the following:
Believe
Stop and listen
Dare to believe
You have all the tools
You will ever need
So follow your passion
Go realise your dreams
Many will doubt you
Some will hate you
But let nothing stop you
If you would only Believe
(Morel Benard)
Famous Poet – Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014) has written many wonderful poems, the poem titled ‘Still I Rise’ is very well known. You will find a copy of the poem pasted below, I won’t give an opinion on every aspect of the poem, I will leave you to carry out your own analysis. There are many verses in ‘Still I Rise’ that I believe speaks great truth about how human beings think and perceive others. For example: Does my sassiness upset you? Oppressors and bullies will usually aim to belittle people, leaving people questioning their self-worth and where there was confidence, the bullied or oppressed individual is left with a lack of confidence. Does my sassiness upset you? Is basically saying poor Mr/Mrs Oppressor, the plan didn’t work, I’m not broken, I’m not bowed down, I’m full of confidence, I have risen and will continue rising and I’m making my voice heard. The oppressor or bully is left feeling cheated, disappointed, they might not want to acknowledge but in fact they have been disempowered. The person whose history reads of enslavement is rising and they will continue to rise. The slave has no reason to feel ashamed, the shame lies with the shameless oppressor.
STILL I RISE – written by Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
Earlier we said that the definition of poetry is the interplay of words and rhythm and that poetry employs rhyme and a set of rules governing the arrangement of syllables, Maya Angelou’s poem has great rhythm and the message on slavery evokes powerful feelings.
Poems on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
Morel’s poems are presented on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and on other social platforms, as a means of raising awareness of Morel’s writings. If you like Morel’s work or believe there is some potential then please follow, like, subscribe, share content. Recent poems are posted on the Study Coach ‘Writing Poetry’ page.
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You can call Morel Benard for a chat on 07944 849271 Website: www.studycoach.uk.com
