Poetry - Literature's King or Peasant?

Ok, time to settle this debate once and for all...

Poetry.

Poetry, poetry, poetry.

Is it literature's crown, or is it merely from the bottom of the barrel? This topic is quite controversial among critics and writers alike. Some see poetry as the almighty. The one shining achievement of literature. A bright light in a dark world. While others see it as the opposite. A waste of time and full of lies. The worst thing to ever come out of language itself. I, personally, am on the latter. I truly believe poetry is beautiful and capable of conveying and provoking so many feelings and thoughts.

Here's why:

Poetry, unlike other genres of literature, helps us understand and appreciate the world around us. Fellow blogger and literary critic, Juan Vidal, says that "poetry is language broken down, chiselled, and refined, made to say what is unsayable through any other means." This statement is one that only applies to the beauty of poetry. Take prose for example, while there are many great works of this genre, none of them can compare to the works of great poets such as PB Shelley and Phillip Sidney. Through their works, they have conveyed the immense significance of poetry to society, even to those who disagree. By reading these pieces myself, I was able to come to grips with the reasons that so strongly suggest that poetry is the highest form of literature.

The first time that poetry was suggested as being a divine form of literature was dated back to 1579. The piece in question was written by English poet, Phillip Sidney. In response to an essay written by Stephen Gosson, an English satirist. Gosson had many opinions about poetry, all of which were bad. His hatred of poetry lead him to make several charges on it. The main charges were:

1. Poetry is a waste of time, and,

2. Poetry is the mother of lies

Sidney, in response to this, decided to prove Gosson wrong. Defending poetry against the first charge, Sidney wrote:

"No learning is so good as that teacheth and moveth to virtue, and that none can both teach virtue, and thereto as much as poetry”. Allow me to translate this into a more understandable sentence for all you non-fluent Shakespearian speakers out there. What Sidney is saying is that "No learning is as good as the learning that teaches you and moves you to virtue, and that no other learning can teach virtue as much as poetry". This explanation shines a light on poetry, describing it as virtuous and high in moral standards as it comes from the heart. 

Sidney's defence against the second charge, which spoke about how all poets are liars, he explained that all poetry is created from emotion and imagination and therefore cannot bear any charges of lying. He goes on to state that lies can only be told when a person insists on telling a fact. Sidney proves the point that poets do not present fact, but fiction embodying truth of an ideal kind. Thus leaving the impression that poetry contains the truth. Nothing more and nothing less.

Poet Phillip Sidney, in his "fashionable" attire

Many centuries later, in 1840, English poet, PB Shelley wrote "Defence of Poetry", in which he defines poetry as "the expression of imagination". He considers that all who express their imagination of life, are poets. He believes that all of the arts (such as music, sculpting and painting) are poetry as they render the imagination. Overall, rhythmical language provides the highest kind of poetry, since language itself is created by imagination. I strongly agree with Shelley, as every encounter I have had with poetry, has left me wanting more. Wishing to explore the deep depths of this truly wondrous art form. I believe that poetry is read to learn the magic and complexities of the human mind. Only a human makes or knows what a poem is. Although many believe that poetry is complicated and requires in-depth analysis to understand, what it lacks in explanation, it makes up for in heart, beauty and soul.

 
Poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (or PB for short)

In my mind, I believe there is no argument whether poetry is the highest form of literature. What these great poets have shown us, is that poetry is the one and only true king of language. It speaks from the heart, helps us understand the world around us, consists of the truth and is the most beautiful and morally benefitting use of language to ever grace this Earth. Phillip Sidney, PB Shelley, William Shakespeare and many others definitely agree, poetry is literature's crown.

Ethan Battle, signing off.


Got any questions or opinions you'd like me to know about? Type them down in the comments below!