Why Is Poetry Important? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Why Is Poetry Important?

You should've paid attention in English class.

269
Why Is Poetry Important?
123rf

I am majoring in English at the University I currently attend, and one thing I'm mainly excited about studying through my program is poetry. If you're like me and you enjoy poetry, then you most likely already know why it's important and why it should be written, read, and studied. If you're someone who always found poetry boring, or you were the person who always fell asleep while your high school English teacher read "The Raven," then I hope you understand the point I will be trying to make.

So why does poetry matter? Why should you read it and care about it at all? One reason is because it can touch different people in different ways. It doesn't matter if you're reading a poem by Poe or Dickinson about death, or a poem by Shakespeare or Donne about love. There are plenty of different kinds of poems to appeal to people's different tastes. They are like genres of music, everyone has their preference. Some prefer the happier upbeat style, some prefer melancholic sounding tunes. Regardless of taste, there are plenty of poems for people to read.

Each poem can be interpreted differently. Just as all songs can be interpreted differently by the listener, poems may hold different meanings to different readers. What may make you feel happy and warm inside, might make me feel dark and sad. A certain line that strikes you as macabre I could find to be hopeful and vibrant. Of course, most poets have placed their own meanings onto and into their work, but of course we has humans think of different ways we can relate with someone's art.

Reading and analyzing poetry can help you think more critically. It's not enough to take most poems, or works of art in general, at face value. When one reads a poem, they must think about what was going on when it was written; whether it be in the world or in the poet's life. They must think about what the poet meant in a certain line, and about what kind of message is being sent, if one is being sent at all. Studying Poe, Whitman, or Rilke in school wasn't a waste of time because it helped me understand the mind of another person, and helped me sympathize with their lives. When we think critically about poetry, we find out we have more in common with the poet than we thought.

Poetry, and all literature actually, is one of the best ways to understand the human condition. Think about it; you have all of these words, all of these voices telling you about love, pain, death, hope, heartbreak, anger, fear, and many more, and they give you a peak into what they thought and felt. Which helps you and I sympathize and relate with the way we think and feel. To understand your neighbor is to recognize your own humanity, and I think that's what makes many of the great poets so great; they understood themselves, and because of that, understood others.

Poetry will never die, it will only take different forms. Right now "slam/spoken word" poetry seem to be very popular. I myself am quite the fan of this genre and am working on some pieces I plan to perform. That's another great thing about poetry, anyone can write it. Granted, not everyone can write it well, but it is for everyone to participate in. Just as I believe all people should create art, I also believe all people should write. People will continue to write poetry and it will continue to evolve. I will continue to enjoy it, criticize it, and learn from it. I hope that you will do the same.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

193799
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

17017
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

459441
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

27508
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments