- Written By: Tara Barnett
- Edited By: Melissa Wiley
- Last Modified Date: 09 April 2012
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2003-2012 Conjecture Corporation
Dramatic poetry is a type of poetry that is designed to be spoken or sung, often as a type of dramatic performance taking place on stage. Shakespeare's plays, most of which were written in verse, are a common example provided of this type of poetry, but some more ancient traditions feature plays entirely written in rhyming verse. Some types of dramatic poetry were written to be read from the page either alone or aloud in smaller settings, but these are less common. Generally speaking, dramatic poetry is any type of poetry in which the discourse of the characters is used to tell the story. It can be thought of even more broadly as any type of poem in which the lines are constructed as characters speaking.
When people think of dramatic poetry, what most often comes to mind is the type of dramatic poetry that is read or sung on stage. There are many different types of poetry that take this form, and many types of ancient plays were constructed in this way. For example, ancient Greek theater often used rhyming verse to make the lines easier to memorize, and even modern translations of Greek rhyming plays often maintain the rhyming structure of the originals. Renaissance theater often also used poetic form, although many plays combine free verse with rhyming sections. What makes a play count as poetry is often difficult to determine, and whether a given play can be considered dramatic poetry is usually up for debate.
There are also other forms of poetry written in the dramatic style that are not meant to be performed in this way. Closet dramas, for example, are written to be read alone or in a small group. The line between a poem and a play in this context is often as simple as the poet's intention.
Given that many plays of this type are sung, many operas could be considered dramatic poetry, although they are not usually thought of in this way. Likewise, poems that are written from a first-person perspective could also be considered members of this class of poems, as the speech of a character is used to create the story. Many people confuse dramatic poetry with lyric poetry, because lyric poetry is usually defined as poetry that focuses on emotions and internal dramas. While dramatic poems can take a monological form, thus creating a type of lyric poem, these two terms are not synonymous in most schools of thought.
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poppyseed
Post 4 |
Dramatic poetry is often recited in the form of a monologue. These are lengthy pieces of prose that is meant to be spoken on a stage, as is a soliloquy.
The difference between a monologue and a soliloquy is that a monologue is like dialogue, just from one person. It is meant to be spoken aloud for someone, even if it’s just the audience, to hear.
A soliloquy, on the other hand, is meant to let the audience inside of the character’s mind. In other words, a soliloquy in its truest form is spoken aloud for the audience’s benefit, but is actually what the actor's character is thinking. As such, other character’s around the person delivering the soliloquy will not ‘hear’ it.
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dimpley
Post 3 |
Many people do not realize that dramatic poetry actually should not sound like poetry at all.
A common misconception is that because poetry may be written in rhyme and/or meter is that it is meant to be spoken that way. However, when poetry (or any script for that matter) is spoken aloud for an audience it should flow naturally in speech.
The natural flow of the written word does not sound the same when spoken in a way that is cohesive out loud. One way to tell if someone is actually a quality actor or not is to listen to the flow of his words. Those who are just ‘reading off the page’ without the page there are showing some very poor quality work.
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KoiwiGal
Post 2 |
This seems like the kind of poetry that needs to be reinvented for the modern age. Poetry is just generally declining, even though there seem to be thousands of poets out there. No one reads it any more. But, if you go on youtube, there are plenty of people who will watch it on there, if it is done in the right way. This kind of poetry, which is more appealing as spoken word and easier for the general public to get hold of, could make poetry in general more popular if it was done in the right way. And, in my opinion, youtube and similar sites, is the right way. |
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pleonasm
Post 1 |
This kind of poetry is absolutely amazing to watch if you manage to see a really good performing poet. Often it doesn't look all that amazing on paper, compared with the kind of poetry people are used to. You can't make the kinds of subtle connections in poetry that's meant to be performed, because people won't have time to take it in. They need broader strokes. But, a really good dramatic poem, in the hands of someone who knows how to work an audience is wonderful. I would definitely recommend it to people, even if they don't think they like poetry. |
