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Spoken word poetry is a genre of poetry intended for performance, with roots in oral traditions and elements of music, sound, and word play. Learn more about spoken word poetry, its history, and some examples of performers from the Poetry Foundation.
Aug 23, 2021 · Learn the tips and tricks for creating your own spoken word poetry, a word-based performance art that engages in powerful self-expression. Find out how to pick a topic, write sensory details, use repetition, and end with an image.
- Spoken Word Poetry Definition
- History of Spoken Word Poetry
- Elements of Spoken Word Poetry
- Best Spoken Word Poetry Examples
- Spoken Word Poetry vs. Traditional Poetry
- Related Poetry Forms
- Other Resources
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Spoken word poetry is a broad designation for the poetic works which are intended for performance. This spoken-word performance art mainly involves a poetic text meant for reading out loud and a performer. Both are inseparable as the words are written for performance rather than to be read as it is, directly from the book or paper, without emotions...
The oral poetry tradition has existed in society for several years, through a cycle of listening, practice, and memorization. In ancient Greece, the lyrics were similar to modern-day spoken word poetry. Performance poetry has existed in Africa from prehistoric times. The genre developed in the United States in the early 20th-century. According to s...
Subject
The subject is what the poem is about. It includes the topics that in one way or the other have an impact on the performer or the writer. The main purpose of the spoken word is to give a message to society. Some of the recurring topics in spoken word poetry are racism, inequality, social justice, corruption, gender, and LGBTQ issues. Explore some of the best-known LGBTQ poems.
Gateway Line
The gateway line is the combination of the first few lines of a spoken word that are meant for introducing the subject to the audience. It could be the first line or a group of lines that tells the audience where the story or narrative is heading. This element contains hooks in order to entice the audience.
Motif
A motif is a recurring idea across a literary text. Spoken word poetry includes the repetition of one word, line, or idea several times during the performance. There can be one or more motifs that help the performer enhance the work’s larger meaning. For instance, In ‘Black Privilege,’ Crystal Valentine uses the line “Black privilege is the hung elephant swinging in the room” as a motif as well as the gateway line.
When the Fat Girl Gets Skinny by Blythe Baird
This poem is about a speaker’s struggle with her obesity, her body, and her mind. The preconceived notions of staying thin and eating lean have not only made her fed up with her own body but also made her give up hope in herself. This piece contains the use of wordplay, poetic devices, and straightforward diction.
Hair by Elizabeth Acevedo
‘Hair’ by Elizabeth Acevedo touches upon the themes of identity, black consciousness, cultural assimilation, and pride. This poem is about a girl, who refuses to “whiten” her hair which is as beautiful as the way it is. She does not want to forget the history of blacks drawn by chains as slaves. Her strangled, curly hair is the symbol of their identity that she bears with pride. Explore these incredible Black Lives Matter poems.
Principles by Danez Smith
Smith’s ‘Principles’ is a long poem consisting of five sections. This piece begins with a powerful repetition of the phrase “ask if,” interrogating the audience to look within and ponder upon the issues largely ignored. Through this piece, Smith wants to question what should be our principles to create a better society.
Spoken word poetry is an oral performance art form and traditional poetry is a written form of art. Traditional poems include a set structure, form, rhyme scheme, and meter. In the case of the spoken word, there are no set rules concerning how to structure the text. Most of the spoken-word poetry is in free-verse with varying line lengths and conta...
Ballad: is a kind of versethat is narrative in nature and is often set to music.Ghazal: is a form of poetry that is constructed with couplets and rhymingwords.Watch: How To Write Spoken Word PoetryLearn: About Harlem RenaissanceRead: ‘The 17-Year-Old & the Gay Bar’ by Danez SmithExplore: An Eight-Step Guide to Write a PoemLearn about spoken word poetry, a poetic form that is meant for performance and incorporates wordplay, intonation, and oral traditions. Explore the history, elements, and examples of this modern art form that addresses social issues and cultural values.
Spoken word is a "catchall" term that includes any kind of poetry recited aloud, including poetry readings, poetry slams, jazz poetry, pianologues, musical readings, and hip hop music, and can include comedy routines and prose monologues.
Sep 8, 2023 · In basic terms, spoken word poetry refers to any kind of poetry that is performed in some or another way. The term originated in the late-20 th century as a means to return to some of the origins of poetry as part of the oral tradition.
- What Is Spoken Word Poetry?Spoken word poetry is a catchall term that refers to any kind of poetry that is, in some way, performed aloud. This means that it has a stronger fo...
- When Did Spoken Word Poetry Originate?In terms of the ancient origins of spoken word poetry, it would have originated in places such as ancient Greece where it was part of the standard...
- What Are the Main Features of Spoken Word Poetry?The main point that is made in spoken word poetry is that it cannot be focused on the image of a poem. When reading a poem, there are various eleme...
- Who Are the Most Famous Spoken Word Poets?There are various spoken word poets in the world and they all hail from different places and make use of a number of different styles. Some of the...
- What Are the Most Famous Spoken Word Poems?Some of the most famous spoken word poems include works such as Everybody Dies but Not Everybody Lives by Prince EA and Still I Rise by Maya Angelo...
This introductory guide to Spoken Word is a helpful tool as students explore ways they might express their thoughts and experiences through poetry. Students can watch sample performances, explore topics, and read up on writing, revision, practice, and delivery tips.
