Didactic Poetry

You may have come across the phrase 'the moral of the story is...' in the fables, fairytales and short stories you read when you were young. 

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      Even in poetry, there are literary works that serve a similar purpose - to present the readers with a moral or life lesson. This type of poetry is known as didactic poetry. Let us look at the definition, structure, types and examples of didactic poetry.

      Didactic poetry definition

      The word 'didactic' comes from the Greek word didaktikos which means 'skilled at teaching'.


      Didactic poetry is poetry that aims to inform, instruct and improve its readers rather than just entertain them. This could be in the form of a valuable moral or life lesson, a rule or instruction, or even knowledge about religion, astrology, arts, sciences and other important subjects.



      Didactic poems show the do's and don't of society. This sense of right versus wrong could be based on religious beliefs, political propaganda, history and literature, laws, ethics and morals that are considered 'good' in society. Hence, the message of a didactic poem is subjective to its social and political context.


      Didactic poetry uses elegant language, metaphors, imagery and other poetic devices to convey a message. However, even though didactic poetry can be well-written and pleasing to read, its aesthetic function serves a disciplinary purpose1. Didactic poems use creative writing techniques as it is the best way to provide lessons to readers in a way that is attractive and memorable without being academic.


      Didactic works have been in circulation long before literature even existed! In mostly all cultures across the world, life lessons and knowledge were circulated in the form of stories that were passed down from one generation to another by word of mouth. This took the form of spoken myths, legends, fables and even fairytales. The first ever written didactic work is believed to be the fairytale 'The Smith and the Devil', which was written in 1300 BCE.


      Didactic poetry Didactic poetry definition StudySmarterFig. 1 - A 1916 illustration for the folk tale 'The Smith and the Devil.'


      Types of didactic poetry

      There are several types of didactic poetry based on the purpose they serve.

      Moral

      This type of didactic poem aims to convey a particular moral or life lesson to its readers that teaches them the 'right' way to behave in this world.


      Typically didactic poems convey a moral lesson by using plot-driven narratives. They feature allegorical characters that symbolise a particular virtue or flaw for which they are either rewarded or punished. Through the experiences of the fictional characters, the readers are given an example of the difference between 'good' versus 'bad' or 'right' versus 'wrong' and the consequences of following both paths in life.


      'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night' (1951) by Dylan Thomas is a poem advising readers on how to face death. The speaker first acknowledges the inevitability of death but then encourages readers to not accept death as an end and give in to it without putting up a fight. The speaker emphasises the importance of human life and states that it is something worth fighting for. The first two stanzas of the poem are as follows:

      Do not go gentle into that good night,
      Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
      Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
      Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
      Because their words had forked no lightning they
      Do not go gentle into that good night.

      Spiritual

      This type of didactic poem preaches religion and spirituality. They provide readers with moral guidance and encourage them to have faith in their God.


      Usually, the narrative of such poems features a character lacking faith or living a sinful life. However, after numerous cycles of struggles, doubts, and repenting, the character undergoes a spiritual awakening and understands God's message.


      In Paradise Lost (1667), John Milton narrates two Biblical stories - one of Satan and his rebellion against God and the other of Adam and Eve's temptation by Satan. Both stories have a common theme - they present the repercussions of disobeying God. In the first narrative, Satan rebels against God and continues to do so even after he is banished to Hell. On the other hand, Adam and Eve experience extreme guilt and shame following their act of sin and seek God's forgiveness. This teaches the reader that even after disobeying God, there is a road to redemption.


      Didactic poetry Types of didactic poetry StudySmarter Fig. 2 - Illustrated version of Paradise Lost (1866) showing Satan's banishment from Heaven.

      Educational

      These didactic poems aim to educate and provide knowledge to readers, almost like a poetic textbook! Poets have written didactic poetry on arts, sciences, agriculture, astronomy and many more.


      'Works and Days' (700 BC) by Greek poet Hesiod is believed to be one of the first didactic poems ever written. Hesiod uses verse to educate his younger brother on the rules of agriculture. The poem is set against the backdrop of the agrarian crisis in mainland Greece.

      Didactic poem structure

      Didactic poems often come in the form of narrative poems that are plot-driven and structured.


      Usually, the structure of such narrative didactic poems is straightforward, although longer epic poems tend to dwell slightly longer on certain phases and have a wider range of subplots and underlying messages.

      Beginning


      First, we are introduced to our protagonist. One of the defining traits of this protagonist is that they possess a certain virtue or flaw that they have in an almost inhuman abundance. For instance, a character could be extremely greedy, or they could be extremely courageous. Based on this character trait, the protagonist could either serve as a 'good example' or a 'bad example' for the readers.


      In the case that the protagonist is a 'bad example', they are usually placed in a favourable position in society. They are either happy, successful, wealthy, respected or admired. This is done to further dramatise the consequences of the protagonist's actions. The more dramatic the protagonist's downfall or 'punishment' is, the more impactful is the message sent to the reader.


      In contrast, where the protagonist is a 'good example', they begin with being in dire circumstances to dramatise their 'reward' when they jump in status in society.

      Middle

      At this stage, the protagonist is confronted by a moral dilemma that forced them to make a decision. Based on this decision, they will either be rewarded or punished.


      In the case where the protagonist is a 'good example,' they are willing to sacrifice everything they have to make the morally 'right' decision. However, in poems where the protagonist is a 'bad example', they are shown to abandon their morals to protect themselves and their social status.


      In some cases, we are introduced to an antagonist who is an allegory that represents a 'bad' or 'wrong' character trait, behaviour or moral.


      Allegory: an allegory is when an abstract concept is expressed in the form of a character. An allegory uses a broader narrative, often in the form of a character, to express an idea or teach a lesson.

      End


      There are several ways a didactic poem can end:


      1. The protagonist makes the morally 'right' decision and is rewarded at the end. They are better off than they were when the poem started.


      2. The protagonist makes the morally 'wrong' decision and is punished. They lose everything they had at the beginning of the poem.


      3. The protagonist makes the morally 'wrong' decision, loses everything but then learns from their lesson. They now know where they went wrong and what they can do to fix it. Once this has been rectified, then they are rewarded for their actions.


      At the end of the poem, the readers, alongside the protagonist, realise the difference between what is 'right' and what is 'wrong' and are made aware of the consequences of either path. The protagonist's journey and experiences in the poem act as an example to show readers the 'correct' morals to live by.

      Didactic poetry examples

      Here are two notable examples of didactic poems that deliver a strong message to readers.

      'If—' (1910) by Rudyard Kipling

      'If—' is a motivational poem where Kipling advises the reader on how to succeed in life, despite the various obstacles they may encounter along the way. He presents the reader with multiple scenarios, both good and bad, and shows them how to navigate them. The poem has lessons on trust, patience, hate, success, failure, pain, perseverance and time. In doing so, he addresses the reader as 'you', making the poem direct and personal. Here is the first stanza of the poem:

      If you can keep your head when all about you

      Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

      If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

      But make allowance for their doubting too;

      If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

      Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

      Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

      And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

      'An Essay on Criticism' (1711) by Alexander Pope

      This poem by Alexander Pope is the source of the famous quote:


      To err is human; to forgive divine

      This poem begins by providing a lesson on criticism, stating that poorly constructed criticism is far more dangerous than poorly-written work. Pope goes on to outline some of the common mistakes made by critics, one of which is praising cliche poems that are showy but do not demonstrate any real skill.


      'Tis hard to say, if greater Want of Skill
      Writing or in Judging ill;
      Patience, than mis-lead our Sense:
      that, but Numbers err in this,
      Fool might once himself alone expose,
      One in Verse makes many more in Prose. (Lines 1-8)


      Didactic Poetry - Key takeaways

      • Didactic poetry is poetry that aims to inform, instruct and improve its readers rather than just entertain them.
      • Didactic poetry can be well-written and pleasing to read, its aesthetic function serves a disciplinary purpose
      • There are three types of didactic poetry:

        Moral

        Spiritual

        Educational

      • Didactic poems often come in the form of narrative poems that are plot-driven and structured.

      • A few notable examples of didactic poems are as follows:

        • 'If—' (1910) by Rudyard Kipling

        • 'An Essay on Criticism' (1711) by Alexander Pope

        • Works and Days (700 BC) by Hesiod

        • Paradise Lost (1667) by John Milton

        • 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night' (1951) by Dylan Thomas

        • 'Eternity' (1880) by William Blake





      References

      1. Tomas Laurinavicius. Didactic Writing. 2022
      2. Fig. 1 - Public Domain: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Smith_and_the_Devil.jpg
      3. Fig. 2 - Public domain: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paradise_Lost_12.jpg
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      Frequently Asked Questions about Didactic Poetry

      What does didactic mean in poetry?

      Didactic poetry is poetry that aims to inform, instruct and improve its readers, rather than just entertaining them. 

      What is an example of a didactic poem?

      A few notable examples of didactic poems are as follows:

      • 'If—' (1910) by Rudyard Kipling

      • 'An Essay on Criticism' (1711) by Alexander Pope

      • Works and Days (700 BC) by Hesiod

      • Paradise Lost (1667) by John Milton

      • 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night' (1951) by Dylan Thomas

      • 'Eternity' (1880) by William Blake

      What makes a poem didactic?

      A didactic poem is one that presents its readers with a valuable moral or life lesson, a rule or instruction, or even knowledge about religion, astrology, arts, sciences and other important subjects. 

      What are the types of didactic poems?

      There are three types of didactic poetry:

      • Moral
      • Spiritual
      • Educational

      What does the word 'didactic' mean?

      The word 'didactic' comes from the Greek word didaktikos which means 'skilled at teaching'. 

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