Ode:
Like Sonnet, Ode is one of the types of Lyric. ‘Ode’ is A Greek word which means, ‘song.’ But, in English, it’s meaning deviates and means, a long lyrical poem which addresses someone or something. For example, the poem, ‘Ode to the West Wind’ begins with the line, “O wild west wind” Here, the poet, P. B Shelley addresses the west wind and speaks about its mighty power.
Some poems in this form are so long that a different poem forms within a poem. The development and winding takes place very slowly in this form. Though the development is slow, it is logical. As, odes are kind of lyric poetry they are highly musical and melodious. The arrangement of its fine metrical pattern provides rhythm and music to the form. The Odes have dignified and elevated themes. Its subject and manner of presentation cannot be trivial, but has to be serious. ‘Pindaric Odes’ and ‘Horatian Odes’ are some of the types of Odes.
Types of Odes
1. Pindaric Odes:
Pindaric Odes are also known as Regular or Choric Ode. They are named after the Greek poet, Pindar, who is known as the ‘Father of Choric Ode’ These odes are sung in the praise of God or to glorify great personalities like kings or warriors. These odes can have any number of stanzas but each stanza has a definite structure of three lines called triad.
Example- ‘The Progress of Poesy” by Thomas Gray.
2.Horatian Odes:
These odes are also known as Lesbian Ode. They are named after the Latin poet, Horace because he wrote many odes in this format. These odes are calm, meditative and restrained. They are not as long as Pindaric Odes.
Example- ‘To Autumn‘ by John Keats.
There is also a kind of Ode called ‘Victorian Ode’ but it is not as popular as Pindaric or Horatian Odes. Poets in Victorian age composed odes in this form.
