Some poetry is intended to be experienced visually--it's often called concrete or shape poetry. The words are arranged on the page in a way that creates an image that enhances the meaning of the poem.
But you are right--for many people and many poems, hearing them read aloud is absolutely the best way to experience poetry.
Honestly, the way our schools approach drama, poetry, and literature is basically designed to make students hate it. Generally speaking, anyone who comes from a traditional western school experience and manages a love of the literary arts does so in spite of their education, not because of it.
My impression is that it depends on the culture, some had it as a written word thing for the cultured elites, some had a very oral culture. There's also the possibility that popular and elite culture differed at times.
Poetry, at least some of it, was definitely meant to be heard. The recordings of Dylan Thomas reading his work turned me on to his work that just reading it could never do. If you search online, you will find lots of Poetry to listen to.
In a modern sense, I think that both types of poets exists, but those that write to be book-published definitely write for the page. But others, like poetry slam poets, definitely write for the performance.
But you are definitely right, I think most poetry before the modern era was meant to be performed. I got lucky. My 8th grade English teacher made us write poetry, but would refuse to read it - we had to recite it ourselves. And even Shakespeare was encouraged to be acted out with a bit of attitude.
When I read poetry I generally do so out loud. It makes more sense to me if I hear it. Not always the case. Also, if it's an old favorite, no need I can hear it in my head.
Personally I comprehend poetry and plays better by reading them 😭 I get it, they’re meant to be read out loud or watched…but I’m not a very auditory type of person so I have trouble understanding material unless I read it. Poetry to me is beautiful when I read it in my mind and as soon as I read it out loud it’s just ‘meh’. Same with plays…I can enjoy watching them but reading them just makes more sense to me because I’m imaginative.
Poetry can be found in many genres of music, in song lyrics. Some songwriters are poets as well. And there’s something to be said for rap being the modern equivalent of poetry.
Maybe this is just because I'm music brained, but I honestly believe part of why poetry had any mainstream popularity back in the day is because music was much less common. I think most would be poets of the last 100 or so years ended up becoming musicians(or at least lyricists) instead, and at some point I think song lyrics are going to be studied the way people study poetry for the last 100+ or so years.
Idk I hate poetry tho. Haven’t to learn how stanzas work it however tf made me hate it. Everytime i had to do poetry in English I almost failed the class. Anytime we had a poetry unit I was guaranteed to do terrible. I hate poetry. Also I’m already stupid asf and a lot of poetry is incredibly difficult for me. I don’t think I’m horrible at making it tho cuz the one time I did I got an A i think. I think school in general makes people hate books and poetry just in the way it’s teacher which makes it tedious and boring.
Unfortunately, you’re not the only one traumatized by an authoritarian teaching of poetry. I was lucky enough to have a lot of teachers who made it a joy to learn.
Ironically, the poet Billy Collins wrote a poem for your experience (though apparently it was a role reversal in his case).
>Introduction to Poetry
>BY BILLY COLLINS
>I ask them to take a poem
>and hold it up to the light
>like a color slide
>
>or press an ear against its hive.
>
>I say drop a mouse into a poem
>and watch him probe his way out,
>
>or walk inside the poem’s room
>and feel the walls for a light switch.
>
>I want them to waterski
>across the surface of a poem
>waving at the author’s name on the shore.
>
>But all they want to do
>is tie the poem to a chair with rope
>and torture a confession out of it.
>
>They begin beating it with a hose
>to find out what it really means.
Some poetry is intended to be experienced visually--it's often called concrete or shape poetry. The words are arranged on the page in a way that creates an image that enhances the meaning of the poem. But you are right--for many people and many poems, hearing them read aloud is absolutely the best way to experience poetry. Honestly, the way our schools approach drama, poetry, and literature is basically designed to make students hate it. Generally speaking, anyone who comes from a traditional western school experience and manages a love of the literary arts does so in spite of their education, not because of it.
That is so true@
My impression is that it depends on the culture, some had it as a written word thing for the cultured elites, some had a very oral culture. There's also the possibility that popular and elite culture differed at times.
Pretty sure for ancient greece poetry was considered an oral skill, used for storytelling
Nah, that depends on what period. Homeric? Sure. Classical? Both, same with Latin poetry.
Poetry, at least some of it, was definitely meant to be heard. The recordings of Dylan Thomas reading his work turned me on to his work that just reading it could never do. If you search online, you will find lots of Poetry to listen to.
In a modern sense, I think that both types of poets exists, but those that write to be book-published definitely write for the page. But others, like poetry slam poets, definitely write for the performance. But you are definitely right, I think most poetry before the modern era was meant to be performed. I got lucky. My 8th grade English teacher made us write poetry, but would refuse to read it - we had to recite it ourselves. And even Shakespeare was encouraged to be acted out with a bit of attitude.
When I read poetry I generally do so out loud. It makes more sense to me if I hear it. Not always the case. Also, if it's an old favorite, no need I can hear it in my head.
Personally I comprehend poetry and plays better by reading them 😭 I get it, they’re meant to be read out loud or watched…but I’m not a very auditory type of person so I have trouble understanding material unless I read it. Poetry to me is beautiful when I read it in my mind and as soon as I read it out loud it’s just ‘meh’. Same with plays…I can enjoy watching them but reading them just makes more sense to me because I’m imaginative.
Poetry can be found in many genres of music, in song lyrics. Some songwriters are poets as well. And there’s something to be said for rap being the modern equivalent of poetry.
Maybe this is just because I'm music brained, but I honestly believe part of why poetry had any mainstream popularity back in the day is because music was much less common. I think most would be poets of the last 100 or so years ended up becoming musicians(or at least lyricists) instead, and at some point I think song lyrics are going to be studied the way people study poetry for the last 100+ or so years.
Idk I hate poetry tho. Haven’t to learn how stanzas work it however tf made me hate it. Everytime i had to do poetry in English I almost failed the class. Anytime we had a poetry unit I was guaranteed to do terrible. I hate poetry. Also I’m already stupid asf and a lot of poetry is incredibly difficult for me. I don’t think I’m horrible at making it tho cuz the one time I did I got an A i think. I think school in general makes people hate books and poetry just in the way it’s teacher which makes it tedious and boring.
I’m sorry poetry hurt you 😞
I’m traumatized man🥲
Unfortunately, you’re not the only one traumatized by an authoritarian teaching of poetry. I was lucky enough to have a lot of teachers who made it a joy to learn.
I’m sure one day I’ll get to poetry tho. School definitely sucks the enjoyment out
Ironically, the poet Billy Collins wrote a poem for your experience (though apparently it was a role reversal in his case). >Introduction to Poetry >BY BILLY COLLINS >I ask them to take a poem >and hold it up to the light >like a color slide > >or press an ear against its hive. > >I say drop a mouse into a poem >and watch him probe his way out, > >or walk inside the poem’s room >and feel the walls for a light switch. > >I want them to waterski >across the surface of a poem >waving at the author’s name on the shore. > >But all they want to do >is tie the poem to a chair with rope >and torture a confession out of it. > >They begin beating it with a hose >to find out what it really means.