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Alex Weitsu SJ
Significance of Poetry in Literature
Poetry is the oldest form of lit- central Asia, and northern Europe
erature. Poetry uses language in recorded the history of their own
special ways, highlighting rhythm, people. In fact, the 1900’s has been
sound, and imagery. Since pre-his- a great age of poetry because of two
toric times, people have creat- world wars, revolutions, and other
ed poetry in the form of songs, upheavals. This shows that poetry
prayers, spells, riddles, and chants. did not have to be about beautiful
Basically, there are three main things but it could be about the
kinds of poetry: lyrics, narrative, ugly, terrible things which are also
and dramatic. Poetry has become a part of the world.
the great influence in the evolution Poetry enriches the literature in
of the literature. Writing poetry many ways. The rhythm, metre
has made people to come up with and sound in the poetry give a mu-
new ideas, and it has widened the sical sound which makes it pleas-
language of the people. ant and attractive to the reader.
Poetry is usually short, but largely The imagery in the poetry creates
emotional. It helps poets to com- a strong sensation in the mind.
municate to the people about their These sensations, or images, are
intimate personal affairs, such as often thought of as being like pic-
love, death, anger, religious faith, tures. But they take us beyond our
grief, nature, historical events, and visual sensations. Above all, the
other powerful emotions. Writing use of imagery in the poetry has
is also a mean of catharsis in which made a tremendous change in the
people write poems to release their field of literature. It gives life to the
pent-up emotions. non- living things, and makes us
In many societies, poets have been to think beyond our imagination.
story tellers or historians, passing Thus, we are able to sense, hear,
on tales about great events and touch, taste, and see the transcen-
people from generation to genera- dent world.
tion. The great epic poems of India,
31 Young Minds 2020
