Speech%20and%20Poetry:%20Song%20Lyrics%20as%20Poetry

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Speech and PoetrySong Lyrics as Poetry
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History

• The art of poetry is thought to precede common
  literacy
• How is this possible?
• Poetry is an oral tradition
• Many early poems were sung
• Lyric Poetry
• expresses emotions
• may or may not be set to music
• Usually rhymes and/or has a regular meter

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History

• Ancient Greece lyric poetry was defined as a
  poetic verse accompanied by a stringed instrument
• Middle Ages Troubadours wrote and performed
  lyric poetry
• English Renaissance Shakespeare incorporated
  songs into many of his plays

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• We have discussed what criteria a poem must meet
  to be considered good poetry.
• What criteria should a song meet to be considered
  poetry?

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Poetic Song Lyrics Should

• Force listeners to think and question the world
  around them
• Reveal or reflect on truth
• Enlighten the listener by making the ordinary
  seem extraordinary

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Poetic Song Lyrics Should

• Take the listener on a journey
• Resonate emotionally with the listener
• Demonstrate Superior Authors Craft
• Word Choice
• Structure
• Literary Devices