Historical Poetry
Encyclopedia
Historical poetry is a sub-genre of poetry
that has its roots in history
. Its aim is to delineate events of the past by incorporating elements of artful composition
and poetic diction
. It seems that many of these events are limited to the phenomenon of war
, merely because war in and of itself foments not only hostilities amongst men, but also severely transposes the character of a society in general. The poetry of Walt Whitman
, for instance, reflects scenes of the American Civil War
which occurred during his lifetime.
In addition, figurative devices such as alliteration
, assonance
, metaphor
, and simile
are invariably used to layer these historical poems with expanding, enriching meanings.
is expected to present factually correct narratives. A poet who writes historical poems can adhere to this ideal, but may also use artistic license
to communicate ideas beyond mere fact, such as mythical or emotional truths.
Contemporary poets such as Lavonne J. Adams
are also concerned with keeping the voices of historical persons alive. This is especially crucial when writing persona poems or other intimate portrayals of people who can no longer speak for themselves.
writes in The Formalist Critics:
To add to this, the purpose of a historical poem serves various ulterior motives. One of these motives might include informing the audience at the time of present events, often to draw parallels and make a political statement. Other motives might be very personal in nature, if the poets feel a connection to the historical event(s) they are recording. When history seems relevant to the poets' lives, historical poetry can become a tool of emotional expression just like any other type of poetry.
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
that has its roots in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. Its aim is to delineate events of the past by incorporating elements of artful composition
Composition (language)
The term composition , in written language, refers to the collective body of important features established by the author in their creation of literature...
and poetic diction
Poetic diction
Poetic diction is the term used to refer to the linguistic style, the vocabulary, and the metaphors used in the writing of poetry. In the Western tradition, all these elements were thought of as properly different in poetry and prose up to the time of the Romantic revolution, when William...
. It seems that many of these events are limited to the phenomenon of war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
, merely because war in and of itself foments not only hostilities amongst men, but also severely transposes the character of a society in general. The poetry of Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
, for instance, reflects scenes of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
which occurred during his lifetime.
Alliteration
In language, alliteration refers to the repetition of a particular sound in the first syllables of Three or more words or phrases. Alliteration has historically developed largely through poetry, in which it more narrowly refers to the repetition of a consonant in any syllables that, according to...
, assonance
Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds to create internal rhyming within phrases or sentences, and together with alliteration and consonance serves as one of the building blocks of verse. For example, in the phrase "Do you like blue?", the is repeated within the sentence and is...
, metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
, and simile
Simile
A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things, usually by employing the words "like", "as". Even though both similes and metaphors are forms of comparison, similes indirectly compare the two ideas and allow them to remain distinct in spite of their similarities, whereas...
are invariably used to layer these historical poems with expanding, enriching meanings.
Responsibility
In writing a historical poem, poets have a slightly different responsibility than do historians. A modern historianHistorian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
is expected to present factually correct narratives. A poet who writes historical poems can adhere to this ideal, but may also use artistic license
Artistic license
Artistic licence is a colloquial term, sometimes euphemism, used to denote the distortion of fact, alteration of the conventions of grammar or language, or rewording of pre-existing text made by an artist to improve a piece of...
to communicate ideas beyond mere fact, such as mythical or emotional truths.
Contemporary poets such as Lavonne J. Adams
Lavonne J. Adams
Lavonne J. Adams is a published poet and writer living in Wilmington, North Carolina. Adams grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, but has called NC her home for over 30 years. Adams currently teaches and is the MFA Coordinator in the Department of Creative Writing at the University of North Carolina...
are also concerned with keeping the voices of historical persons alive. This is especially crucial when writing persona poems or other intimate portrayals of people who can no longer speak for themselves.
Appeal
The interpretation of a historical poem is a matter of wide significance, particularly because it is linked to poetic intention. Cleanth BrooksCleanth Brooks
Cleanth Brooks was an influential American literary critic and professor. He is best known for his contributions to New Criticism in the mid-twentieth century and for revolutionizing the teaching of poetry in American higher education...
writes in The Formalist Critics:
the author's intention as realized is the 'intention' that counts, not necessarily what he was conscious of trying to do, or what he now remembers he was then trying to do
To add to this, the purpose of a historical poem serves various ulterior motives. One of these motives might include informing the audience at the time of present events, often to draw parallels and make a political statement. Other motives might be very personal in nature, if the poets feel a connection to the historical event(s) they are recording. When history seems relevant to the poets' lives, historical poetry can become a tool of emotional expression just like any other type of poetry.
Historical Poems
These include the works of authors that embody particular events in history, notably gripping war scenes. A few examples of such poems include:- John's Brown Body by: Stephen Vincent BenetStephen Vincent BenétStephen Vincent Benét was an American author, poet, short story writer, and novelist. Benét is best known for his book-length narrative poem of the American Civil War, John Brown's Body , for which he won a Pulitzer Prize in 1929, and for two short stories, "The Devil and Daniel Webster" and "By...
- Civil War by: Charles Dawson Shanly
- O Captain! My Captain!O Captain! My Captain!"O Captain! My Captain!" is an extended metaphor poem written in 1865 by Walt Whitman, concerning the death of American president Abraham Lincoln.-Analysis:...
by: Walt Whitman - Come Up From the Fields, Father by: Walt Whitman
- The Blue and the Gray by: Francis Miles FinchFrancis Miles FinchFrancis Miles Finch was an American judge, poet, and academic associated with the early years of Cornell University. One of his poems, "The Blue and the Gray", is frequently reprinted to this day.-Biography:...
- A Message by: Elizabeth Stuart Phelps WardElizabeth Stuart Phelps WardElizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward, born Mary Gray Phelps, was an American author and an early advocate of clothing reform for women, urging them to burn their corsets.- Biography :...
- Boston by: Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century...
- The Eve of Waterloo by: Lord Byron
- Shiloh: A Requiem (April, 1862) by: Herman MelvilleHerman MelvilleHerman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumous novella Billy Budd....