poems in which the speaker's ardent expression of an emotional element predominates the actual subject of the poem
Term originally derived from the Greek word meaning 'for the lyre' and indicating verses that were written to be sung. However, more recently the term 'lyric' has been used to refer to short poems, often written in the 'I' form, where the poet expresses his or her feelings e.g. The Lake Isle of Innisfree by W.B.Yeats or London by William Blake. | | | | | | | | | JK | | | | | | QR | | | UVWXYZ
a short poem expressing the thoughts and feelings of a single speaker
characterized by the expression of the poet’s innermost feelings, thoughts, and imagination
Poetry that expresses a speaker’s personal thoughts or feelings. The elegy, ode, and sonnet are forms of the lyric.
poem expressing the subjective feelings and personal emotions of the poet. Such poetry is melodic, since it was originally accompanied by a lyre in recitals. Most Western poetry in the twentieth century may be classified as lyrical. Examples of lyric poetry include A. E. Housman's elegy "To an Athlete Dying Young," the ode s of Pindar and Horace, Thomas Gray and William Collins, the sonnet s of Sir Thomas Wyatt and Sir Philip Sidney, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Rainer Maria Rilke, and a host of other form s in the poetry of William Blake and Christina Rossetti, among many others. (Compare with Dramatic Poetry and Narrative Poetry.)
poetry characterized by the expression of personal emotion. "Lyric" comes from lyre: lyric poetry was originally accompanied by the music of a lyre.
short poem (usually no more than 50-60 lines, and often only a dozen lines long) written in a repeating stanzaic form, often designed to be set to music. Unlike a ballad, the lyric usually does not have a plot (i.e., it might not tell a complete story), but it rather expresses the feelings, perceptions, and thoughts of a single poetic speaker (not necessarily the poet) in an intensely personal, emotional, or subjective manner. Often, there is no chronology of events in the lyrics, but rather objects, situations, or the subject is written about in a "lyric moment." Sometimes, the reader can infer an implicit narrative element in lyrics, but it is rare for the lyric to proceed in the straightforward, chronological "telling" common in fictional prose. However, this chain of events is not explicitly a center of plot or extended struggle between protagonist and antagonist. Instead it triggers a moment of contemplation and appreciation.
Lyric poetry is a form of poetry that does not attempt to tell a story, as do epic poetry and dramatic poetry, but is of a more personal nature instead. Rather than portraying characters and actions, the lyric poet addresses the reader directly, portraying his or her own feelings, states of mind, and perceptions.