Poetry, Assessment Example

My opinion about poetry after learning about meter and formal composition is that poetry functions at more than one level at the same time. For example, the rhythm or meter of a poem has meaning even without the association of the specific words. In William Blake’s poem “The Lamb” the rhythm of the poem is such that it presents a sing-song feeling of elementary meter. The prosody of the poem suggests that it is a child’s song or rhyme that is meant to be learned “by heart.” This theme is extended by the poem’s words, images, and themes. In the lines “Gave thee clothing of delight, / Softest clothing wooly bright; / Gave thee such a tender voice, / Making all the vales rejoice!” (Blake, 5-9) a sense of tenderness and joy is expressed by the rhythm and repetition of the poem , while the diction and images make this feeling more specific. The rhythm of a poem is like the poem’s spine, or heart-beat.

Similarly, Blake’s poem, “The Tyger” uses a simple, almost basic rhythm and rhyme. In this poem the use of elementary rhythm and rhyme as well as word repetition is designed to express a feeling of primal fear. The rhythm and meter of the poem is meant to be primitive, almost elemental in order to address the theme of the poem, which is the threat of metaphysical evil. As evidence of this, the lines “And when thy heart began to beat, / What dread hand? & what dread feet?” (Blake, 12-13)  represent the theme at its most blatant and explicit. In fact, in this poem it is the prosody and menacing repetition of rhythm that most lends a sense of fear and brooding to the poem. The two poems by Blake evidence one of the most important aspects about rhythm and meter in poetry: that it functions as importantly as theme of word-choice and is, in fact, one of the significant aspects of poetic composition. In the hands of a good poet, meter becomes and integral part of the poem’s impact and theme and will help determine if a poem is understood and remembered by the reader.

What is your opinion of poetry after learning about meter and formal poetry? In your answer, reference “The Lamp” and “The Tyger” by William Black to help shape this opinion.