1. Dramatic Monologue:
* Definition: A single speaker addresses a silent listener, revealing their thoughts, feelings, and motivations. It often features a specific situation or event, and the speaker's words expose their character and inner world.
* Examples: Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess," Alfred Tennyson's "Ulysses," T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."
2. Dramatic Dialogue:
* Definition: Dialogue between two or more characters, often focusing on a specific conflict or situation. This can be a scene from a play, a conversation in a narrative poem, or a stand-alone piece.
* Examples: Shakespeare's plays, Christopher Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus," W.B. Yeats' "The Second Coming" (contains dialogue between two figures).
3. Dramatic Lyric:
* Definition: A lyrical poem that uses dramatic elements, such as dialogue, characterization, or heightened emotion. While not a direct monologue, it often explores a specific character's emotions and perspective.
* Examples: Emily Dickinson's "Because I could not stop for Death," Sylvia Plath's "Daddy."
4. Closet Drama:
* Definition: A play written to be read rather than performed on stage. It often features heightened language, complex characters, and intricate plotlines.
* Examples: Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Prometheus Unbound," T.S. Eliot's "The Murder in the Cathedral."
5. Verse Drama:
* Definition: A play written entirely or partially in verse. This form uses poetic language, meter, and rhyme to heighten the dramatic impact and create a sense of elevated speech.
* Examples: Shakespeare's plays, Christopher Marlowe's "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus."
6. Dramatic Narrative:
* Definition: A narrative poem that uses dramatic techniques, such as characterization, dialogue, and plot, to tell a story. It often focuses on conflict and action, with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
* Examples: Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken," John Milton's "Paradise Lost."
7. Dramatic Scenes:
* Definition: Short, self-contained pieces that depict a specific moment or scene from a larger story or situation. They can be stand-alone poems or excerpts from longer works.
* Examples: A single scene from a Shakespearean play, a poem capturing a specific moment in a historical event.
These are just some of the many forms of dramatic poetry. The boundaries between these forms can be blurry, and many poems combine elements of different types. Remember, the most important aspect of dramatic poetry is its ability to engage the reader through the creation of characters, dialogue, and powerful emotions.