Ode: A Form of Lyrical Poetry, Exams of Poetry

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Odes and Elegies Poetry Foundation Practice Exams

What is an Ode? — Remember lyrical poetry, poems that convey the poet's personal thoughts and emotions? The ode is one form of lyrical poetry. The word ode is believed lo have originated from the Greek word aeidein, which translates as “singing or chanting." In ancienl limes, odes were performed with gusto and revelry amid music and dance. Tn time, odes came to be known as “personal lyrical compositions." They could be either sung Gwith or wilhoul music) or recited with background music. The ancient Greeks usually accompanied odes with two musical instruments, the lyre and the aulos. Tividence suggests thal the ode in written form dates back to ancient Rome, where it was common, The Roman poet Tlorace is among the earliest known poels lo have written odes in Latin, The English romantic poets — revived the ancienl ode because it allowed them to convey their passionate feelings and sentiments. Odes of the romantic period primarily honored specific people, places, ideas, or objects. In addition, a majorily of eighteenth—- and nineteenth-century odes explored weighly concepts. An example of a romantic ode is William Wordsworth's "Ode to Duty," in which he invokes Duty and extols her virtues. John Keats's “Ode to a Nightingale" is another well-known example. In il, Keats uses the figure of the nightingale to emphasize the beauty of nature, Keats's "Ode on Melancholy" is another romantic ode that deals with a complex topic. It explores the roots of sadness and how to deal with this feeling. Tn contrast to the serious odes of the romantic era, some recently written odes are tinged with humor. An example of this type of ode is Madame Denura's 2006 poem titled “Ode to my Bed," in which she pra the solace her bed offers her while she sleeps. She uses the ode form, which the romantic poets used to praise weighty subjects such as nalure and philosophy, lo comment on a seemingly trivial object. This use of the ode form produces a comical effect.