Odes
Created by early Grecian poet Pindar out of the traditional forms of
Greek tragedy, the ode is generally defined as a rhymed poem of irregular meter
that praises its subject. The English ode consists of an undefined number of
10-line stanzas. An ode poem is a poem that is about only one specific thing
that you think is truly amazing and praiseworthy. This type of poem can be
centered upon an object, an idea, or even a person. The trick to writing an ode
poem is to write using the same structure throughout, while using different
words to communicate the one thing you are writing about.
Tips for Writing an Ode
1. What really makes you emotional, either in a
positive or negative way? Think of an object, person, or idea that you are
deeply connected to, and this will be the topic of your ode poem. Remember, an
ode poem can only be focused on one thing, so make sure that whatever you pick
is something that you feel strongly about, so you have enough to write.
2. Think of specific adjectives to describe how
you feel about the topic of your ode. Throughout the poem, you will have to use
many words that have the same definition or meaning, so you might want to check
out a thesaurus if you get stuck with this part.
3. How long do you want your poem to be? Start
by splitting up your poem into groups, or stanzas, of ten lines. Most odes have
three of these stanzas, but you can write more or less than that if you chose.
4. How do you want your poem to rhyme? It’s up
to you how you want to format the rhyme scheme of this poem. You can make every
two lines rhyme, every other line rhyme (most odes do this), or make up your
own pattern- just make sure that whatever pattern you choose, you use the same
one for the whole poem.
5. Fit the ideas from your planning process
into phrases and stanzas. Use a thesaurus to find synonyms for words that may
not fit the structure and rhyme scheme of your ode.
6. Read your draft aloud to see if it flows
easily and makes sense.
7. Shift words and phrases around to make it
sound better. Add alliteration and internal rhymes to strengthen it. Eliminate
words that make the poem sound clumsy.
8. Share your ode with friends and family.
[Lesson adapted from Power Poetry website]
“Ode on a
Grecian Urn”
Thou still
unravish'd bride of quietness,
Thou foster-child of silence and slow time,
Sylvan
historian, who canst thus express
A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme:
What
leaf-fring'd legend haunts about thy shape
Of deities or mortals, or of both,
In
Tempe or the dales of Arcady?
What men or gods are these? What maidens loth?
What mad
pursuit? What struggle to escape?
What
pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?
Heard melodies are
sweet, but those unheard
Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;
Not to the
sensual ear, but, more endear'd,
Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone:
Fair youth,
beneath the trees, thou canst not leave
Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare;
Bold
Lover, never, never canst thou kiss,
Though winning
near the goal yet, do not grieve;
She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss,
For
ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!
Ah, happy, happy
boughs! that cannot shed
Your
leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu;
And, happy
melodist, unwearied,
For
ever piping songs for ever new;
More happy
love! more happy, happy love!
For
ever warm and still to be enjoy'd,
For ever panting, and for ever young;
All breathing
human passion far above,
That
leaves a heart high-sorrowful and cloy'd,
A burning forehead, and a parching tongue.
Who are these
coming to the sacrifice?
To
what green altar, O mysterious priest,
Lead'st thou
that heifer lowing at the skies,
And
all her silken flanks with garlands drest?
What little
town by river or sea shore,
Or
mountain-built with peaceful citadel,
Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn?
And, little
town, thy streets for evermore
Will
silent be; and not a soul to tell
Why thou art desolate, can e'er return.
O Attic shape!
Fair attitude! with brede
Of
marble men and maidens overwrought,
With forest
branches and the trodden weed;
Thou,
silent form, dost tease us out of thought
As doth
eternity: Cold Pastoral!
When
old age shall this generation waste,
Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe
Than ours, a
friend to man, to whom thou say'st,
"Beauty
is truth, truth beauty,—that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
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