Definition of Poetry

What is poetry?

In general, poetry is a work composed of words, either spoken or written. All human beings and civilization has known poem from the time even before BC. They are derived from modern society to the people who are still primitive. Poetry is the work that can be enjoyed by everyone, whether they work as doctors, employees, professors, teachers, students, etc. The poem can be enjoyed as a work full of meaning, and as a means to release tension, as entertainment. For poets, poetry is a medium to convey what he feels, what he experienced and found from the environment, or with what he imagine.

There are many definitions made by experts for poetry. They give the definition is in accordance with the experience they get. Thus, poetry can be interpreted by many and diverse meanings. For Perrine, poetry might be defined as a kind of languages that says more and says it more intensely than does ordinary language (1974:553). A poem is composed of beautiful words full of meaning with a beautiful arrangement that is so interesting to read and have deepest meaning in it. Just like Shakespeare’s thought, then he called the poem in a sonnet:

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.


Poetry comes from an idea stated in a post. As a literary work all time known and universally applicable, poetry is much studied by students to the culture around the world. As a work of literature, poetry has two elements that are always attached to a literary work. They are intrinsic and extrinsic elements of poetry. Intrinsic and extrinsic element of poetry is different from other literary works, such as prose or drama.

Intrinsic Elements are the basic elements contained in poetry, such as: figure of speech, imagery, Rhyme, meter, symbol, etc. However, the extrinsic elements are the supporting elements of poetry that comes from outside. Extrinsic Elements of poetry are the same as other literary works, such as prose and drama, which is approximately about the author biography, background social, religion and education of the author, until the state economy. Through these two elements of a poem can be understood, fully analyzed both of the meaning contained in it, until the reasons and purpose of poetry is made.

There are so many great poets came from the England. They came from before until after the industrial revolution took place in English. Poems of the English is so famous around the world and even today the works of poets from the England can still be enjoyed and studied as an outstanding work timeless. The poets include: John Milton, William Shakespeare, William Blake, Alexander Pope, William Wordsworth, Robert Frost, and many more.