Poetic Voice

Poetic voice in literature

In order to understand the poetic voice in poems, you will first need to know the key elements of the poetic voice. These are:

• Grammar and syntax

• Form

• Literary devices

• Subject matter

Grammar and Syntax

Grammar and syntax are closely related, but both contribute to poetic voice in poems in slightly different ways. Grammar refers to how sentences, clauses and phrases are constructed to create meaning. For example, we can take into account:

• Word class (e.g. verb, noun, adjective, adverb)
• Punctuation (e.g. full stop, comma, colon, dash)
• Capitalisation
• Spelling

On the other hand, syntax is a part of grammar that particularly refers to how words or phrases are arranged to form a sentence. We take into account the parts of the sentence (such as the subject, object, verb) and the order they are placed in. This determines the type of sentence that is used (such as a statement, question, or order).

Example of the poetic voice in poems: grammar and syntax

Let's look at an example of how the poetic voice can be analysed in terms of grammar and syntax. The following example is from Rupi Kaur's Milk and Honey (2015).

Kaur uses neither punctuation nor capitalisation in this poem. She does this to make the poetic voice of the poem more intimate and informal - it is as if she is having a casual conversation with the reader. The lack of punctuation throughout could also indicate the constant flow of her thoughts, which could figuratively resemble the running water that she compares herself to.

Further, the use of the adverb 'how' at the beginning of the stanza implies that there could be a question - but there is no question mark. This could be done to suggest that Kaur is asking it rhetorically, so is not expecting an answer but is simply reflecting on her words. In turn, the answer becomes open to interpretation for the reader, which creates ambiguity and intrigue!

It is also important to note that Rupi Kaur rarely uses capital letters, giving herself a unique poetic voice and making her poems recognisable as her own.

Form

The form of a poem refers to the overall structure of the poem. When looking at the form of a poem, we take into account:

• Line length

• Stanza (verse) length

• Rhyming pattern (or lack of rhyme)

• Rhythm (the stress patterns of the poem)

Different types of poems can follow different structures - some follow strict structures whereas others are free verse (meaning they don't follow a particular structure). The form is important to the development of poetic voice in multiple ways, such as:

• Helping to convey meaning alongside the main content of the poem.

• Emphasising a key idea that is significant to the poet, or something the poet wants the reader to remember.

• Creating a more complex meaning - allowing the reader to read between the lines and interpret the physical appearance of the poem; not just the lexical choices of the poet!

An example of a type of poem that follows a strict structure is the 'Villanelle'. This type of poem consists of nineteen lines, which is separated into:

• 5 stanzas with three lines each (known as tercets)
• 1 stanza with four lines (known as a quatrain)

The first line and last line of the first stanza is repeated throughout the poem (this is known as refrain). The rhyming pattern of the Villanelle can be written as:

ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA ABAA.

This means the last words in the first and third lines of each stanza rhyme with one another. The second lines of each stanza also rhyme with one another.

Example of form and the poetic voice in poems

A popular example of a Villanelle is Dylan Thomas' poem Do not go gentle into that good night (1951):

What can the form of this poem tell us about the poetic voice?

This poem was supposedly written for Thomas' dying father. Here, we can see that the repetition of the first and third lines is used to emphasise the speaker's feeling of anger and resistance against death (referred to as the 'good night'). This highlights the sense of desperation as the speaker wants their father to fight against death, which seems at first to be inviting. We can see that this shows the poetic voice, as the form is used to repeat emotions specific to the poet and give attention to the individual thoughts of the speaker.

Literary Devices

Literary devices refer to techniques used by the poet to develop the meaning of the poem and enhance the speaker's voice. There are many devices used in poetry to create different effects, such as:

• Repetition

• Alliteration

• Sibilance

• Assonance (repetition of similar vowel sounds)

• Rhyme

• Rhythm

• Figurative language (e.g. metaphor, simile, personification etc.)

Example of literary devices and the poetic voice

A good example of how literary devices are used to enhance the poetic voice is seen in T.S. Eliot's poem Preludes (1910/1911). This poem is separated into 4 parts. Below is the first part:

The literary devices used in this poem contribute to the poetic voice of the speaker. So how can we analyse them?

Poetic voice analysis: analysing poetic tone for essay writing

Eliot immediately makes use of personification within the first line, 'The winter evening settles down'. This gives a human-like quality to the evening, setting the scene and allowing the reader to gain an understanding of the time of year. Further 'settling down' could imply a state of rest or a calming nature. Here, the poetic voice is personal and relatable, as it creates a connection between a human-like 'thing' and the reader. It draws the reader in and brings the world of the speaker to life.

Eliot then repeats specific elements throughout his poem to enhance his poetic voice and show the reader that the poem is uniquely his. This is achieved through the use of sibilance ('s' sound repetition), apparent in the line 'with smell of steak in passageways.' The hissing repetition of the 's' sound is used to add rhythm to the poem and keep the poem flowing. It could also be used to figuratively imitate the sound of a smell drifting through the air, adding to the imagery of the poem.

Alliteration is also used, as seen through the repetition of the 'b' sound in the line 'The showers beat on broken blinds.' Like sibilance, alliteration is used to create a rhythm. But unlike the 's' sound, the 'b' sound creates a plosive stop similar to the beat of a drum. This creates a harsher rhythm which is used to imitate the sound of rain. Through the use of both sibilance and alliteration to create rhythm, the poetic voice remains steady and consistent. This could also imply the constant flow of the speaker's thoughts as he takes the reader on a journey and describes the world around him using his senses.

Rhyme is used, but the pattern does not follow a strict structure. Although the poetic voice is steady in some ways, the lack of a consistent rhyme scheme could portray the unpredictable nature of life. This ultimately makes the poetic voice seem spontaneous but also realistic, as life is rarely straightforward.

Subject Matter

The subject matter concerns what the poem is about. It can be used to set the scene of the poem and let the reader know the main themes of the poem. Some subject matters are obvious, while others may be more abstract, so will be more difficult to interpret.

Example of subject matter and the poetic voice in poems

This example is from W.H. Auden's poem Funeral Blues (1938):

The subject matter of this poem is about the death of the speaker's close friend. So what can this subject tell us about the poetic voice? As death typically brings feelings of loss and deep grief, the poetic voice is negative and sombre. This sets the tone throughout the poem as the speaker reflects on the past and the impact of their friend's death on their own life. The subject matter can be further reinforced through the use of vocabulary and imagery. Particularly the use of metaphors in the third stanza which highlight the negative effects of losing someone so significant.

Poetic voice and tone - What is the Difference?

What is the difference between poetic voice and poetic tone? Poetic voice and poetic tone may often be confused with one another because they are both used to express thoughts/feelings. Let's look at what poetic tone means!

Poetic tone example

This example of a poetic tone in a poem comes from Emily Dickinson's poem Hope is the thing with feathers (1861):

In this poem, Dickinson uses the extended metaphor of a bird to symbolise hope and the power it has. Hope is something that is constant and keeps people warm. It always provides for people in times of need, yet never asks for anything in return. It is clear, then, that Dickinson has a positive attitude toward hope.

Poetic tone can be described using adjectives. The tone of this poem could be described as:

• Hopeful
• Positive
• Optimistic
• Grateful
• Encouraging