POETRY

WHAT IS POETRY?

Poetry is highly imagistic, and it is written in condensed language, stylized syntax, and
figures of speech not found in ordinary communication. Poetry usually creates strong rhythm or
metrical feet and a sense of crystallized experience.

GENRES OF POETRY
1. Lyric Poetry- We can define a poem as lyric either modally or in regard to content. In
terms of mode, lyric poem are those in which there is an undefined speaker. In
terms of subject matter, lyric poetry is often highly personal, emotional, and
contemplative.

(Examples: Sonnet, Elegy, Ode, Descriptive Lyric Poetry, Reflective Lyric Poetry, and
Confessional Lyric Poetry)

2. Dramatic Poetry- A poetry in which the speaker is a dramatized character who is

clearly not the poet. It usually depicts the dramatic character in some sort of conflict situation.
The speaker may be solving a problem or explaining motivation for behavior.

(Examples: Dramatic Lyric Poetry, Dramatic Monologue, Dramatic Narrative Poetry, and
Dramatic Soliloquy)

3. Narrative Poetry- The central feature in all narrative poetry is the story being told.
Many narrative poems are in the epic mode—that is, both a narrator and a character
speak. The speakers in a narrative poems are undefined. The characters speak the
dialogue lines in the past-tense story.

(Examples: Ballads, Metrical Tales, and Epic Poem)

ELEMENTS OF A POEM

Some common poetic techniques and devices and other features of poetry that are
important to understand in order to achieve the fullest appreciation of any poem.

A. Alliteration is a repetition of the same consonant sounds in a sequence of words,

usually at the beginning of a word or stressed syllable: “descending dew drops;” “luscious
lemons.” Alliteration is based on the sounds of letters, rather than the spelling of words; for
example, “keen” and “car” or “boon” and “bane” are alliterate, but “car” and “cite” do not.
 B. Assonance is the repetition of similar internal vowel sounds in a sentence or a line of
poetry, as in “I rose and told him of my woe.”

C. Figurative Language is a form of language use in which the writers and speakers mean
something other than the literal meaning of their words. Two figures of speech that are
particularly important for poetry are simile and metaphor.

1. A simile involves a comparison between unlike things using like or as. For
instance, “My love is like a red, red rose.”

2. A metaphor is a comparison between essentially unlike things without a

word such as like or as. For example, “My love is a red, red rose.”

3. A hyperbole an exaggerated statement employing inflated language. It was

so cold, I saw polar bears wearing hats and jackets. I am so hungry I could eat a horse.

D. Imagery is the concrete representation of a sense impression, feeling, or idea that

triggers our imaginative ere-enactment of a sensory experience. Images may be visual
(something seen), aural (something heard), tactile (something felt), olfactory
(something smelled), or gustatory (something tasted). Imagery may also refer to a
pattern of related details in a poem.

E. Rhyme is the repetition of identical or similar concluding syllables in different

words, most often at the ends of lines. Rhyme is predominantly a function of sound
rather than spelling. Syllabic Rhyme- Rhymes in the final syllable of each rhyme-word,
such as dove – love clever – never

G. Stanza is a stanza is a division of four or more lines having a fixed length, meter, or
rhyming scheme. Stanzas in poetry are similar to paragraphs in prose. Both stanzas and
paragraphs include connected thoughts, and are set off by a space.

The number of lines varies in different kinds of stanzas, but it is uncommon for a
stanza to have more than twelve lines.

On the basis of a fixed number of lines and rhyming scheme, traditional English
language poems have the following kinds of stanzas: Couplet, Tercet, Quatrain, Quintain,
Sestet

H. Meter is the basic rhythmic structure of a line within a work of poetry. Meter
consists of two components: 1. The number of syllables 2. A pattern of emphasis on those
syllables A line of poetry can be broken into “feet,” which are individual units within a line of
poetry. A foot of poetry has a specific number of syllables and a specific pattern of emphasis

Now that you have done studying the definition of poem and its basic elements, you
are now ready to discover the timeless poems from the selected regions.

REGION 3- CENTRAL LUZON

Just like the other ethnolinguistic groups, the Kapampangans have rich customs and
traditions governing the rites of passage. Some of these practices are still being observed
nowadays.

Birth Practices. In one of the barrios of Guagua, Pampanga, close relatives of a woman
who is about to deliver a child, together with their neighbor, make noise like shouting, beating
tin cans and exploding firecrackers in order to help expel the fetus faster.

Baptismal Rites Practices. In many Kapampangan houses, the baby’s baptismal dress
serves as a souvenir and decoration for the sala. It is put on a frame and hung in the sala like a
picture.

Courtship and Marriage. The only prevalent form of courtship now is the pamanhikan,
where the male, with the permission of the parents, is to visit the girl in the latter’s house.
When the agreement is reached between the boy and the girl, the marriage ceremony is
arranged.

At present, pamanhikan is being practiced when the parents of the boy confer with
their balae (parent of the bride-to-be) regarding marriage plans of the children.

Death and Burial. The wake (makipaglame) lasts for at least three days and two nights
after which everybody participates in the libing (interment). As part of the ritual, vigil is
observed till the ninth day after the death of the deceased known as pasiyam (day).
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REGION 8- EASTERN VISAYAS

Eastern Visayas is one of the regions of the Philippines and is designated as Region VIII.
It consists of six provinces, namely, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar
(Western Samar) and Southern Leyte. These provinces occupy the easternmost islands of
Visayas: Leyte, Samar and Biliran. The regional center is Tacloban City, one of two cities of
Leyte. Calbayog City is the lone city in Samar, one of the oldest in the country.

Dialects / Language. The main languages spoken are Cebuano and Waray-Waray
(speakers of these languages also call their languages "Visayan"). A third language known as
Inabaknon is spoken in the island of Capul in Northern Samar. Some claim the existence of
another speech variety known as Sagul spoken on the island of Biliran and is in actuality a mix
of both Cebuano and Waray.

Natural Resources. The region's sea and inland waters are rich sources of salt and fresh
water fish and other marine products. It is one of the fish exporting regions of the country.
There are substantial forest reserves in the interiors of the islands. Its mineral deposits include
chromite, uranium (in Samar), gold, silver, manganese, magnesium, bronze, nickel, clay, coal,
limestone, pyrite and sand and gravel. It has abundant geothermal energy and water resources
to support the needs of medium and heavy industries.

Culture: Dances. Tinikling, the Philippines' national dance is folkdance that originated
from the region, but the most popular cultural dance among Warays is the Curacha, danced
during feast celebrations and special gatherings. The Leyte Kalipayan Dance Company, a local
cultural group, held highly successful performances around the world. Music. Waray people are
music lovers whose folkloric music are mostly ballads in form, famous of which is "Dandansoy"
while "Iroy nga Tuna" (Motherland) is a patriotic song.
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