Lyric: Definition, Characteristics & Examples

LYRIC: DEFINITION & CHARACTERISTICS

Lyric poetry which originated during the 5th and 6th centuries BC in Greece is perhaps the most popular form of literature even in the post-modern era. It has caught the attention of the lovers of literature because of its brevity and sweetness. Various critics have defined lyric in different manners, but the most common definition of lyric is:

“Lyric is a short, musical poem written on a single subject matter which expresses the personal emotions and experiences of the poet.”

Following are the chief characteristics of lyric.

SIMLICITY OF LANGUAGE: 

Lyric poetry was meant for the common men and women. People used to sing songs and dance along during the ancient times. Their main purpose was to get pure entertainment by such songs. That is the reason why the language of lyrics is so easy that everyone understands and enjoys it. Wordsworth advocated for the use of simple language in lyrics. Read these lines from Robert Frost’s lyric ‘Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening’ and see how in simple language the poet has expressed a serious philosophy of life.

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   

But I have promises to keep,   

And miles to go before I sleep,   

And miles to go before I sleep.”

SINGLE IDEA OR EMOTION: 

Lyrics are written on a single idea or emotion as they are very short in length. The lyric poet does not have a wide scope to play. Most common themes of lyrics in English literature are patriotism, war, nature, life etc. Lyrics express the poet’s personal emotions like love, sorrow, fear, feeling of loss etc. For example, John Milton’s sonnet ‘On His Blindness’ expresses his grief, his sorrow of the loss of vision. Edmund Waller’s lyric ‘Go Lovely Rose’ expresses his feeling of love.

BREVITY OF EXPRESSION:

The lyric poet unlike epic poet does not have a large scope of expression. In lyric, brevity is a must because it meant to be sung and sung by common men and women. As lyrics are written on a single subject matter, it does not require much length. In fact, it is popular and largely read because of its brevity. Generally, the first stanza of the lyric introduces the idea or raises a problem, next three to four stanzas develop the thought and the last stanza concludes the thought or brings about the solution of the issues raised in the beginning. For example, Wordsworth’s poem ‘Daffodils’ expresses his loneliness in the beginning when he writes in the first stanza:

“I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o’er vales and hills”

But the last stanza expresses his feeling of joy of the company of nature when he writes:

“And then my heart with pleasure fills

And dances with the daffodils.”

SUBJECTIVITY:

Lyrics are subjective or personal by nature. The speaker uses first person. The words like “I”, “My” and “Me” are most commonly found in lyrics. Here, the speaker directly addresses the readers invoking his own personal feelings and experiences. Mark the word “I” when Wordsworth writes “I wandered lonely as a cloud”. Mark the word “my” in the following lines written by Robert Burns:

“O my Luve is like a red, red rose

   That’s newly sprung in June;

O my Luve is like the melody

   That’s sweetly played in tune.”

MUSIC & MELODY:

Lyric is an ancient type of song which was sung in the company of a musical instrument called “lyre”. Hence, music and melody are the integral elements of lyrics. This musical quality and rhyming make it more charming and appealing. The meters like iamb, trochee, anapaest and dactyl are most commonly used by the lyric poets. Rhyming adds beauty and melody to the lyrics. Refrains or repetition of words or sometimes lines too makes it more users friendly. 

CONCLUSION:

To sum up, we may say that lyric which originated in Greek literature, is a type of short poem which expresses the poet’s personal emotions or experiences. They are personal songs full of rhyming, music and melody. Lyrics were highly popular during the Elizabethan Age (1550-1630) and during the period of Romantic Revival (1798-1830). 

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