Poetry : Ode

 Features:

  • It is of Greek origin
  • It is a serious and dignified composition. It is exalted in subject matter and elevated in tone and style. Neither the theme nor its treatment can be trivial or undignified. The poet is serious both in the choice his subject and in the manner of its presentation. Example: Wordsworth's 'Ode on the Intimations of Immortality'
  • It is longer than the lyric proper, for the emotion it embodies is of a kind that admits of development. It does not, like the lyric, aim at giving the effect of "unpremeditated art". It may be full of deep and sincere emotion, but its expression is expected to be much more consciously elaborate, impressive and diffuse.
  • It is often in the form of an address, addressed directly to the being or object it treats of. The opening lines sometimes contain an apostrophe or appeal, which is characteristic of the whole treatment of the poem. Example: Shelley's "Ode to the West Wind" begins with 'O wild west wind" ; Keats' "Ode on a Grecian Urn" begins with "Thou still unravished bride of quietness" ; Tennyson's 'To Virgil' begins with "Roman Virgil, thou that singest" and so on. 
  • Sometimes the ode has for its theme an important public event like a national Jubilee, the death of a distinguished personage, the commemoration of the founding of a great University. Marvell's "Upon Cromwell's Return from Ireland"  and Tennyson's "Ode on the Death of Duke Wellington " are best examples.
The Dorian or Pindaric Ode:
  • The Greek Ode had two forms- Dorian Ode and Lesbian Ode
  • Dorian Ode was choric and was sung to the accompaniment of a dance. Its structure was borrowed from the movements of the dancers. 
  • It consists of three parts; a stanza form, known as Strophe, during the recitation of which the dancers made a turn from the right to the left; a similar stanza form, known as Antistrophe, during the recitation of which the dancers made a counter turn from the left to the right and a third stanza form, different in structure from the previous two, known as Epode, during the recitation of which the dancers stood still. 
  • This sequence of Strophe, Antistrophe and Epode could be repeated any number of times in an Ode of this type. Example: It is repeated thrice in Gray's Odes, "The Progress of Poesy" and "The Bard", which are among the most successful imitations of this form in the English language. 
  • From its brilliant use by the ancient Greek poet, Pindar, the Dorian form is more usually known as the Pindaric Ode.
The Lesbian or Horatian Ode:
  • The Lesbian Ode was simple in form
  • It consists of a number of short stanzas, similar in length and arrangement. 
  • The treatment is direct and dignified and the thought clearly developed. 
  • It was popularized in Latin by two great Roman writers, Horace and Catullus.
  • The works of Horace in particular served as a model to English imitators of the form and English Odes of this type are commonly known as Horatian Odes.
The Ode in English literature:
  • English ode has its own style and subject matter.
  • It is either Regular, consisting of a series of exactly similar stanzas, like the Odes of Shelley and Keats or Irregular, when each stanza follows a different arrangement, as in Wordsworth's Immorality Ode and several of the Odes of Tennyson and Robert Bridges.
 
Activity:

Identify the type of the following Ode, poet, title and analyze. 

He nothing common did or mean
Upon that memorable scene
   But with his keener eye
   The axe's edge did try;

Nor call'd the Gods, with vulgar spite,
To vindicate his helpless rights;
   But bow'd his comely head
  Down, as upon a bed.


Comments

  1. Princy venishya .R16 July 2023 at 21:05

    Princy Venishya.R
    II.B.A.ENGLISH
    112205194

    1. Its an Horatian ode
    2. Andrew Marvell was the poet of this ode.
    3. Title was "An Horatian Ode Upon Cromwell's Return from Ireland.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sankari.C17 July 2023 at 05:23

    C Sankari
    II BA English
    112205198

    Horatian ode
    Andrew marwell
    An horatian ode upon Oliver Cromwell return

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ramya c17 July 2023 at 09:13

    CRamya
    II B.A.English
    112205195
    1.Horatian ode
    2.Andrew marwell was the poet of this ode

    ReplyDelete
  4. Abinaya G14 October 2023 at 10:15

    Abinaya G
    II-B.A English
    112205184

    1. Type: Horatian ode
    2. Poet: Andrew Marvell
    3. Poem: A Horatian Ode Upon Cromwell's return from Ireland.

    ReplyDelete

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