Lyric Poetry: Characteristics and Subgenres

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Lyric Poetry

Lyric poetry is the manifestation of the inner world of the author, making it subjective and personal, but not necessarily individualistic. Typically, the author is inspired to write by external objects or events. Key features of lyric poetry include its brevity and the flexibility or variety it presents. It communicates a representation of the self, which is a reflection of reality. This is evident in each author's syntax, keywords, topics, and method of exposition.

Expression of the Self

The self is expressed through grammatical elements such as the first person, demonstratives, and adverbs of place and time. The representative function is predominant in the poetic work. The appellate function also appears, bringing with it the imperative and vocative. The "you" referred to is variable, as poetry is addressed to everyone. The message highlights the dysfunction of expressive elements and the use of subjective resources. Usually, the reference is not to the outside world.

Form and Style

Lyric poetry is typically expressed in verse with regular metrical schemes. Rhythm also plays a crucial role. Poets employ a combination of phonic resources, including:

  • Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds.
  • Repetition: Use of the same phonemes or syllables.
  • Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate natural sounds.
  • Paranomasia: Words with similar sounds but different meanings.

Morphosyntactic resources are also used, such as:

  • Anaphora: Repetition of words at the beginning of a verse or statement.
  • Polysyndeton: Use of multiple conjunctions.
  • Listing: Words with the same syntactic function.
  • Parallelism: Similar arrangement of two or more syntactic or metric units.
  • Hyperbaton: Inversion of the normal order of words.
  • Ellipsis: Omission of words or phrases.

Figurative Language

Lyric poetry utilizes various syntactic devices, including:

  • Hyperbole: Exaggeration.
  • Oxymoron: Contradictory terms.
  • Irony: Expressing the opposite of the literal meaning.
  • Personification: Attributing human qualities to animals or inanimate objects.
  • Metaphor: Identification of two terms, comparing an object and an image using literary language.

Connotation and Innovation

Literary language stands out as connotative and suggestive, as it does not exhaust all meaning. It gives words a peculiar quality and configures a world to create images. It is innovative because it rejects common terms and phrases, creating new expressive possibilities. It seeks originality and merges form and content, achieving aesthetic appeal through the choice of words and the use of creative forms.

Subgenres of Lyric Poetry

The main subgenres of lyric poetry can be divided into major and minor categories:

Major Subgenres
  • Anthem: Expresses the feelings and ideals of a community.
  • Ode: Exalts a personality.
  • Epistle: A letter with a didactic purpose.
  • Satire: Criticizes vices.
  • Elegy: Expresses pain.
  • Eclogue: Features shepherds in an idealized natural setting.
  • Song: A love poem or religious poem.
Minor Subgenres
  • Madrigal: Praises a lady.
  • Letrilla: Of a loving, religious, or satirical-burlesque nature.
  • Ballad: Sentimental and melancholic, with initial stanzas that develop a theme.

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