by Chassidy Rogers
The Bible is full of poetry. But, what is poetry? How does approaching a book in the Bible that is poetry change the way that we read or listen to it, and interpret it?
Poetry is writing that is FULL of imagery and figures of speech that is written in a verse form. It’s used to paint word pictures. Typically, poetry is contrasted with prose. Prose is what we are most familiar and comfortable with.
Prose is based on grammatical structure and the natural flow of speech. It’s usually written in paragraph form.The origin of the word prose means, “Straightforward or direct speech.” As Samuel Taylor Coleridge defined the two, prose is "words in their best order; poetry is the best words in their best order." (emphasis mine)
An English publishing house says, “If one requires less attention from a reader to achieve what one has to say, one can safely use prose; if, however, one is keen to transmit an exact and intense experience, one tends to move towards the poetic end of the spectrum.”
Poetry is intended to transmit an exact and intense experience. The way it does that is through figurative language. So, what is figurative language?
Figurative language...
(1) goes beyond the literal meaning of words
(2) is the use of words beyond what they usually mean
(3) is meant to be interpreted imaginatively
Writers use figurative language to create vivid pictures, ideas, and feelings in the reader’s mind.
First, there is the general use of:
Symbol- where something represents, stands for, or is a symbol for something else. Often, a it’s something concrete that is a symbol for something abstract (use example of American flag, heart, etc.)- the mare among Pharaoh’s chariot- best of the best (S.O.S. 4:11)
But then there are more specific examples of figurative language (all of which are found in Song of Songs):
Simile- compares two things using the words “like” or “as.” (Common example- Life is like a box of chocolates; S.O.S. example- 1:5)
Metaphor- compares two things by stating that one thing is another thing. (Common example- Life is a highway; S.O.S example- 1:14)
Hyperbole- an outrageous exaggeration that emphasizes a point. (Common example- I’m going to be here forever; S.O.S example- 2:8)
Personification- gives human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, or ideas. (Common example- Opportunity is knocking; S.O.S example- 2:17)
There are a few elements of language that are used often in Hebrew poetry. Some of the elements of Hebrew poetry we aren’t able to appreciate or even see unless we know and read in the original language. Things that are common even in English poetry (assonance-repeating similar vowel sounds (the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain), onomatopoeia- words that sound like their meaning or mimic sounds (roared, crashed, pinged), alliteration- when words have the same beginning sounds (Peter Piper picked a peck of peppers) All of these are used in Hebrew poetry.
Other elements include:
Emblematic Blazon- A blazon is a love poem that praises the beauty and virtue of the beloved. An emblematic blazon catalogs the attractive features of the beloved and compares them to objects in nature. (S.O.S. chapter 1 contained several)
Stream of Consciousness- A literary structure in which the content of the work unfolds in a random way that corresponds to how the human mind organizes information, thoughts, and feelings. This aims to re-create the flow of the mind. (S.O.S. 2:3-7)
Now, we don’t have to become experts in poetry to appreciate the Bible. But we do hope that having a better understanding of common elements of poetry will help you listen, read, and observe more intently as we continue to study the Song of Songs. Pay attention to when you see these types of things being used, and recognize that these are being used to give us a picture of what is actually trying to be communicated.
The Bible is full of poetry. But, what is poetry? How does approaching a book in the Bible that is poetry change the way that we read or listen to it, and interpret it?
Poetry is writing that is FULL of imagery and figures of speech that is written in a verse form. It’s used to paint word pictures. Typically, poetry is contrasted with prose. Prose is what we are most familiar and comfortable with.
Prose is based on grammatical structure and the natural flow of speech. It’s usually written in paragraph form.The origin of the word prose means, “Straightforward or direct speech.” As Samuel Taylor Coleridge defined the two, prose is "words in their best order; poetry is the best words in their best order." (emphasis mine)
An English publishing house says, “If one requires less attention from a reader to achieve what one has to say, one can safely use prose; if, however, one is keen to transmit an exact and intense experience, one tends to move towards the poetic end of the spectrum.”
Poetry is intended to transmit an exact and intense experience. The way it does that is through figurative language. So, what is figurative language?
Figurative language...
(1) goes beyond the literal meaning of words
(2) is the use of words beyond what they usually mean
(3) is meant to be interpreted imaginatively
Writers use figurative language to create vivid pictures, ideas, and feelings in the reader’s mind.
First, there is the general use of:
Symbol- where something represents, stands for, or is a symbol for something else. Often, a it’s something concrete that is a symbol for something abstract (use example of American flag, heart, etc.)- the mare among Pharaoh’s chariot- best of the best (S.O.S. 4:11)
But then there are more specific examples of figurative language (all of which are found in Song of Songs):
Simile- compares two things using the words “like” or “as.” (Common example- Life is like a box of chocolates; S.O.S. example- 1:5)
Metaphor- compares two things by stating that one thing is another thing. (Common example- Life is a highway; S.O.S example- 1:14)
Hyperbole- an outrageous exaggeration that emphasizes a point. (Common example- I’m going to be here forever; S.O.S example- 2:8)
Personification- gives human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, or ideas. (Common example- Opportunity is knocking; S.O.S example- 2:17)
There are a few elements of language that are used often in Hebrew poetry. Some of the elements of Hebrew poetry we aren’t able to appreciate or even see unless we know and read in the original language. Things that are common even in English poetry (assonance-repeating similar vowel sounds (the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain), onomatopoeia- words that sound like their meaning or mimic sounds (roared, crashed, pinged), alliteration- when words have the same beginning sounds (Peter Piper picked a peck of peppers) All of these are used in Hebrew poetry.
Other elements include:
Emblematic Blazon- A blazon is a love poem that praises the beauty and virtue of the beloved. An emblematic blazon catalogs the attractive features of the beloved and compares them to objects in nature. (S.O.S. chapter 1 contained several)
Stream of Consciousness- A literary structure in which the content of the work unfolds in a random way that corresponds to how the human mind organizes information, thoughts, and feelings. This aims to re-create the flow of the mind. (S.O.S. 2:3-7)
Now, we don’t have to become experts in poetry to appreciate the Bible. But we do hope that having a better understanding of common elements of poetry will help you listen, read, and observe more intently as we continue to study the Song of Songs. Pay attention to when you see these types of things being used, and recognize that these are being used to give us a picture of what is actually trying to be communicated.
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