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- DictionaryOde/ōd/
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.
ode: [noun] a lyric poem usually marked by exaltation of feeling and style, varying length of line, and complexity of stanza forms.
Ode. A formal, often ceremonious lyric poem that addresses and often celebrates a person, place, thing, or idea. Its stanza forms vary. The Greek or Pindaric (Pindar, ca. 552–442 B.C.E.) ode was a public poem, usually set to music, that celebrated athletic victories. (See Stephen Burt’s article “And the Winner Is . . .
- What Is An Ode?
- Types of Odes
- History of The Ode in English
- How to Write An Ode
- Why Do Writers Writeodes?
- Examples of Odes
- Some Famous Odes
- Related Literary Terms
- Other Resources
An ode is a formal lyric poem that is written in celebration, appreciation, or dedication. They are generally directed as a specific person, place, idea, or object. Unlike other forms of poetry, the ode does not have a strict line or stanzarequirement. Traditionally they aren’t very long but encompass a variety of other structures, such as the eleg...
The first, the Pindaric ode, also known as the Greek ode, derives its name from an Ancient Gree poet, Pindar, who wrote songs performed by dancers and a chorus of singers. They celebrated major events and moments in history. These songs were irregular in their length, metrical patterns, and rhyme but were consistently made up of three parts. The three sections: the strophe, antistrophe, and epode. The Ancient Greeks often accompanied their odes with music.
The next type of ode we’re going to take a look at is the Horatian. It comes from the Latin tradition of the Aeolic ode and is written with the intention of crafting a calm and contemplative tone. These odes were meant to bring peace to the reader. The ode was named for the 1st-century-BC poet Horace. These written works are usually concerned with themes of love, joy, and the act of writing. These poems are short and made up of around two quatrains.
An irregular ode is a poem that does not conform to either the structures set out in the Horatian or Pindaric forms. The verse is generally irregular, and the stanzas lack any sort of prescribed order. There is no formal rhyme schemein this kind of ode, giving the poet the freedom to experiment with their verse.
When considering the long history of the ode in the English language it is necessary to look back to Edmund Spenser(Poems). Best-known for his epic, The Faerie Queene, Spenser also wrote the earliest odes in the English language, ‘Epithalamium’ and ‘Prothalamium.’ Moving forward in time to the 17th century, poets like Abraham Crowley and John Dryde...
Unlike some forms of poetry, odes are fairly straightforward to compose. 1. Find something meaningful. This could be an object, such as Pablo Neruda’s suit, or a feeling, like love or joy. 2. Consider all the aspects of your “thing” that you appreciate. What does it do for you? How does it make you feel? What other parts of your life does it influe...
Odes are used in order to express a writer’s appreciation for something. In some cases, this is something lofty, as is traditional. But, in other cases, such as with Pablo Neruda’s odes, he focuses in on incredibly important things that are generally overlooked. In his case, he thinks about suits, socks, thread, and more. Odes generally have a wide...
Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Reflections of Early Childhood by William Wordsworth
There are a few well-known examples of a Pindaric ode, including William Wordsworth’s ‘Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Reflections of Early Childhood.’ Take a look at these lines from that ode: The poet is looking back on the past, remembering a time in which the natural world pleased his spirit and eased his heart. That time is no more, though. He looks around him at all of humanity and mourns our inability to appreciate the natural world. The “ode” is directed at a love for the natural...
Ode on Solitude by Alexander Pope
Take a look at ‘Ode on Solitude’ by Alexander Pope(Bio | Poems) as an example ofa Horatian Ode, In these lines and throughout the poem, Pope expresses his appreciation for solitude and the peace it can bring about. Explore more Alexander Pope poems.
Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats
The odes of John Keats(Bio | Poems) are some of the most famous examples of the irregular ode form. Here are a few lines from Keats’ ode ‘Ode to a Nightingale’ written in 1819: This is only one small part of what many lovers of poetry consider to be Keats’ best ode. It is dedicated, as the title suggests, to a nightingale. Throughout the poem, Keats touches on themes of life, death, and the fleeting nature of pleasure. Discover more John Keats poems.
Make sure to check out these fantastic examples of odes on a variety of subjects: 1. ‘Ode to a Grecian Urn’by John Keats(Bio | Poems) 2. ‘Ode to the West Wind’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley(Bio | Poems) 3. ‘The Lady to Her Guitar’ by Emily Brontë(Bio | Poems) 4. ‘Ode to Thread’by Pablo Neruda(Bio | Poems) 5. ‘Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn’ by Tim Turnbull(P...
Allegory – a narrative found in verse and prosein which a character or event is used to speak about a broader theme.Figurative Language – refers to figures of speechthat are used in order to improve a piece of writing.An ode (from Ancient Greek: ᾠδή, romanized : ōdḗ) is a type of lyric poetry, with its origins in Ancient Greece. Odes are elaborately structured poems praising or glorifying an event or individual, describing nature intellectually as well as emotionally. A classic ode is structured in three major parts: the strophe, the antistrophe, and ...
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ode, ceremonious poem on an occasion of public or private dignity in which personal emotion and general meditation are united. The Greek word ōdē, which has been accepted in most modern European languages, meant a choric song, usually accompanied by a dance. Alcman (7th century bc) originated the strophic arrangement of the ode, which is a ...
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
ODE meaning: 1. a poem expressing the writer's thoughts and feelings about a particular person or subject…. Learn more.
An ode is a form of poetry such as sonnet or elegy. Ode is a literary technique that is lyrical in nature, but not very lengthy. You have often read odes in which poets praise people, natural scenes, and abstract ideas. Ode is derived from a Greek word aeidein, which means to chant or sing. It is highly solemn and serious in its tone and ...
