ODE TO POETRY

The Wallflowers

DEFINITION

ode

/od/

Noun

1. A lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often elevated in style or manner and written in varied or irregular meter.

2. A poem meant to be sung

ORIGINATION

Ode comes from the Greek aeidein, meaning to sing or chant, and belongs to the long and varied tradition of lyric poetry. Originally accompanied by music and dance, and later reserved by the Romantic poets to convey their strongest sentiments, the ode can be generalized as a formal address to an event, a person, or a thing not present.

TYPESPindaric: named for ancient Greek poet Pindar, who was credited with inventing ode. Pindaric odes were performed with a chorus and dancers, often composed to celebrate athletic victories. Contain formal openings , or strophe (of complex metrical structure), followed by an antistrophe (mirrors the opening) and an epode (final closing section of an different length and composed with a different metrical structure

Horatian: named for Roman poet Horace. It is more tranquil and contemplative than Pindaric ode. Less formal and less ceremonial; a poem used for fun or for quiet reading.

Irregular: retained tone and thematic elements of the classical rode.

Pindaric Ode ExampleA stanza from Pindar’s Isthmian Odes:

If ever a man strives

With all his soul's endeavour, sparing himself

Neither expense nor labour to attain

True excellence, then must we give to those

Who have achieved the goal, a proud tribute

Of lordly praise, and shun All thoughts of envious jealousy.

To a poet's mind the gift is slight, to speak

A kind word for unnumbered toils, and build For all to share a monument of beauty.

Horatian Ode Examples

First 2 stanzas of On Cromwell's Return from Ireland by Andrew Marvel:

The forward youth that would appearMust now forsake his Muses dear,

Nor in the shadows singHis numbers languishing:

'Tis time to leave the books in dustAnd oil th' unusèd armor's rust,

Removing from the wallThe corselet of the hall.

Irregular Ode Examples

First 6 stanzas of Ode To Spring:

Oh ! Glorious Spring, how amazing you are

You are both Truth's beauty and light

You travel far a Yet always remain bright

Baby lambs greet you with a bleat

Birds fly stretching their wings