How to Write an Ode

By an eHow Contributor

The ancient Greeks and Romans often sang their odes in celebration of great athletes, memorable events
and magnificent places. Through time the ode was transformed by English scholars into something more
meditative and private. It evolved again, when Romantic Era poets reached back into history and tried to
emulate the great poets, combining both previous forms into an even more unique exploration of the form.
Whether you've been assigned to write an ode as a classroom project, or you're simply looking to expand your
poetic horizons, read on for instructions on how to write an ode.
Created by Pindar out of the traditional forms of Greek tragedy, the ode is generally defined as a rhymed
poem of irregular meter that praises its subject. The English ode consists of an undefined number of 10-line
stanzas.

Instructions
1. Consider the subject matter that you wish to write about, and remember that beauty can be
found in the least expected places. (ie: A bag floating on the wind, light reflected through a
raindrop on a window, etc.)
2. Write a 10-line stanza of iambic verse using an a-b-a-b-c-d-e-c-d-e or a-a-b-b-c-c-d-d-e-e-f-f-g-
g-h-h rhyme scheme.
3. Proceed to write as many 10-line stanzas as desired. Use the same rhyme scheme pattern in
the following stanzas, but with different rhymes. If you do this correctly, the "a" of a stanza will
rhyme only with the "a" of that same stanza.
4. Revise as needed

Read more: How to Write an Ode | [Link] [Link]

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**Note: You must write at least one 10-line stanza for this choice.

Example of an Ode:
Ode to a Loved One (by Sappho)

Blest as the immortal gods is he, My bosom glowed; the subtle flame
The youth who fondly sits by thee, Ran quick through all my vital frame;
And hears and sees thee, all the while, O'er my dim eyes a darkness hung;
Softly speaks and sweetly smile. My ears with hollow murmurs rung;

'Twas this deprived my soul of rest, In dewy damps my limbs were chilled;
And raised such tumults in my breast; My blood with gentle horrors thrilled:
For, while I gazed, in transport tossed, My feeble pulse forgot to play;
My breath was gone, my voice was lost; I fainted, sunk, and died away.
 How To Write A Eulogy

A funeral eulogy speech or remembrance is a sincere tribute and an inspiring gift to a deceased
person delivered at a memorial service. Eulogy means blessing or praise. It comes from the Greek
term eulogia. The basic rules in this tutorial: draw the contours of the life of the person who died,
and honor his or her merits, character and virtues. A eulogy is a well-crafted speech intended to
commemorate a loved one who has died. It is usually presented at a memorial service or funeral by
someone who was close to the deceased and knows them well.
A eulogy may contain:

a condensed life history of the person who has died

details about family, friends, work/career, interests, and achievements
favorite memories of the deceased
favorite poems, songs, quotes, or religious writings

The most touching and meaningful eulogies are written from the heart. A eulogy does not have to be perfect.
Whatever you write and deliver will be appreciated by the people in attendance.

Here's How:

1. Start by realizing the task at hand.

Writing and delivering a eulogy is truly an honor. It is an opportunity for you to bring the deceased person back
into the minds of those in attendance. Your words will paint a picture of the deceased through the memories,
anecdotes and stories you tell. A eulogy allows the audience to remember the person -- who they were, what
they did and what they enjoyed about life.

2. Recall your own memories.

Think about the deceased and the relationship you had with them. Where you met (if your not family), things
you did together, humorous or touching memories, and what you will miss the most might be things you decide
to share.

3. Gather information about the deceased.

Talk with family members and close friends to gather important information about the departed. Even co-
workers may have valuable things to share. Some important information to include in the eulogy:
Persons age/date of birth
Family and other close relationships
Education/work/career
Hobbies or special interests
Places the person lived
Special accomplishments
4. Organize.
You may want to organize your notes and drafts on a computer program, plain paper or note cards. Use
whatever method is most comfortable and familiar to you.
Some people prefer to prepare and deliver a serious eulogy while others will want to keep the tone light. A mix
of both elements, solemnity and humor, is usually best. It allows the audience to grieve appropriately but to
also share in the celebration of a life well-lived.

Create an outline of your speech and fill in the information you gathered about the person.
 Keep in mind how much time you will have to deliver your eulogy. It's best to err on the short side, especially if
several people will be speaking.

5. Write!
Write your speech in your own voice. That means to write it in the same way you would normally talk. Don't get
bogged down by the formalities of writing. Your audience will want to feel like you are talking to them, not
reading from a script.

Keep in mind the most important thing: write from your heart.

6. Review and revise.

The first draft you write is usually not the last. Read through it and decide what to keep and what to toss out.
You may want to read it to family or friends to get their feedback or read it into a recording device so you can
listen to it yourself.

When you think you are done, let it sit overnight. Review it again the next day when it will be fresh again. Make
any necessary revisions.

What You Need:

Memories, stories, and anecdotes
Poems, stories, and/or religious writings
Paper and a pen, or a computer

**Note: Your Eulogy must be 3-5 paragraphs for this choice.

Example:

Eulogy for a Grandmother

To tell you the truth I had a hard time putting all my and she’d keep on asking until she got the answer she
granny’s good traits into writing. No matter how hard wanted.
I try, I can never do justice to what she overcame in My granny was a very strong woman and she always
her lifetime. I know we are all grieving today for we got her way. Maybe that’s one quality I got from her.
all lost a great lady. But I know wherever she is now She was also a very good adviser. I personally would
she’s happy and contented with what she left us. seek her advice before I’d go to my parents. We
always had short talks. Even if I didn’t finish what I
She was a mother, a sister and a friend to all of us. wanted to ask her she already had an answer for it.
I’m sure each and every one of you here today has She was also the kind of person that would think
something to share on how my grandmother touched about other people before herself. She never liked
your life. She shared a lot of good memories, asking for help but she was always ready to lend a
especially with me, her favorite grandchild. We shared helping hand to others. She would do everything in
lots of things together and she was one of my favorite her power to help other people.
mentors. I don’t know if I can still be the same person
I was now that she’s gone. I can remember the last Although she never got the chance, I think in her own
activity we did together; we went out to watch a way she was able to show us how important we all
movie. As some of you already know my grandmother were to her. We may no longer see her but we’ll
really loved to watch classic love stories. Although we always have these special moments we shared with
never agreed on what to watch, I always enjoyed our her. She will always have a special part in our hearts.
times together. She’d always ask odd questions about Let’s just be thankful that we knew a special lady like
the actors or about the story. And I’d just laugh at her my grandmother.
 How to Write an Elegy Poem
Categories: How Tos

An elegy poem is a poem written on the occasion of someone's death. How to Write an Elegy Poem explains everything
you need to know to create a lasting work of art.

Writing an Elegy Poem Tips

1. Fitting subjects includes the death of a loved one or a president.
2. The poem must be somber in tone.
3. There is no set form, but a good elegy should include a metrical pattern or rhyme scheme.
4. Try to create distinctive imagery.
5. Include some of your own thoughts about death and dying.

Introduction
An elegy is a type of poem written on the occasion of a death, be it someone the poet knows personally, a
public figure or a group of casualties. The best elegies use the death, or deaths, as a starting point on a
meditation about death and dying. Somber in tone, the elegy dates back to ancient Greek poetry.

Step 1: Poetry Basics

For thousands of years, poets have been able vent to their passions and inspire listeners through poetry. The
success of a poem, whether an elegy or a love poem, depends on the writer's command of language, not to
mention their knowledge of poetic devices. Here are a few to get you started.
1
Rhyme. Rhyming is one of the most basic poetic skills that we have. Succeed to Read: Rhyme Rhyming is the
act of putting two sound-alike words together, such as spoon and June or day and way. Almost anyone
learning to talk can discover and generate rhymes intuitively.
Rhythm. Rhythm is another basic skill that children come across just by learning language. Rhythm involves the
combination of accented and unaccented syllables to produce something pleasing to the ear.
2
For example, Iambic pentamter is a very popular rhythm in poetry. Cummings Study Guides: Meter
Iambic means that there is an unaccented syllable placed right next to an accented syllable. If someone
says "the car" they would place the accent on the word "car." Pentameter means that there are five
iambs in a line. William Shakespeare wrote some of his most powerful poetry in iambic pentameter.
3
Absolute Shakespeare: Poems
Alliteration. This device consists of finding two words that begin with the same letter, as in crazy cats, hairy
4
hippos or terrible toucan. Think Quest: Alliteration
5
Simile. Compare two unlike nouns using "like" or "as." Think Quest: Simile
For more poem basics, check out Mahalo's How to Write a Poem.

Step 2: Choose a Topic

While the theme of an elegy is always death or dying, the person or persons about whom the poem is being
written can range from a loved one to a group of people the poet has never known personally.
Death of a Friend. For his elegy, Lycidas, poet John Milton (1608-74) mourned the loss of an old classmate,
6
Edward King. Consolatio: John Milton: Lycidas is Dead, Dead Ere His Prime
Death of a Loved One. Ben Jonson wrote an elegy after the death of his young son in 1616. Luminarium: On
7
My First Son
Death of a Hero or Public Figure. Percy Shelley composed Adonais after fellow poet John Keats died. English
8
History: Adonais
A Tragic Event Involving Death. William Butler Yeats wrote Easter, 1916 after violent riots in Ireland protested
9
British rule, riots in which many died. Online-Literature: Easter, 1916
Step 3: Choose a Form
There is no set metrical pattern or rhyme scheme for an elegy. Eduqna: What is the Format for Writing an Elegy
10
Poem? An elegy, therefore, is a creative opportunity in which the poet can let the spirit move them. The
following are a few forms you might want to try:
Free Verse. Free verse is the easiest of the poetic forms, because it involves no fixed metrical pattern and no
11
rhyming. Writing U Penn: Free Verse
Walt Whitman (1819-92) was a pioneer of this form, which he used for When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard
12
Bloom'd, an elegy on the death of Lincoln. glbqt: Literature
Rhymed Couplets. Adding an elevated tone to a poem, rhymed couplets mean that a line will rhyme with the
line that follows, then the following two lines will rhyme, and so on. Literary Explorer: Patterns and Types of
13
Poetry
John Milton wrote the elegy Lycidas basically in this form, with some unrhymed lines added to make it
somewhat irregular.
Epigram. Ben Jonson's On My First Son has been called an epigram, meaning that it is concise, fitting of an
14
epitaph. Dictionary: Epigram An epitaph is something that is short enough to fit on a tombstone, a pithy tribute
15
to someone who has been laid to rest. Goliath: Elegies Ending "Here"
These are just a few of the poetic forms that would make your elegy stand out. The Word Shop: Poetic Forms
16
and Terminology

Step 4: Set the Tone

Because an elegy is a poem exploring death and dying as a theme, it's important to express that theme through
motifs that emphasize the tone of sadness.
Nighttime. Setting the poem at twilight or nighttime gives it a sad or contemplative mood, as Thomas Gray does
17
in his classic Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard. Thomas Gray Archives: The Primary Poetry Gray's
references to "parting day," "drowsy tinklings" and the "moping owl" establish the time of day and the motif of
darkness.
Solitude. Death can make survivors feel alone. Put this in your poem through imagery or word choice. The
image of a solitary bird in Whitman's elegy for Lincoln is one of the more moving images in all of poetry,
18
symbolizing the sense of loss the speaker feels. Bartleby: When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd Choose
words such as "solitary," "alone" and "lonely" to help create the feeling of emptiness.
Religion. An elegy is the perfect opportunity to explore your religious views. How does the death of this person
or persons make you feel about your own life? God and Jesus are the first references in Tennyson's In
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Memoriam A.H.H., written in the 19th century. Online-Literature: In Memoriam A.H.H. You can also describe
things you might see in a church or churchyard to further the emphasis on religion.

Conclusion
If you follow the above steps in writing your elegy poem, you will be following in the footsteps of some of the
finest writers from the last few centuries. It's now time to put your pen to paper (or your fingers to keyboard) and
let your creativity flow.
EXAMPLE:

Farewell by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Tie the strings to my life, my Lord, But never I mind the bridges,
Then I am ready to go! And never I mind the sea;
Just a look at the horses -- Held fast in everlasting race
Rapid! That will do! By my own choice and thee.
Put me in on the firmest side, Good-by to the life I used to live,
So I shall never fall; And the world I used to know;
For we must ride to the Judgment, And kiss the hills for me, just once;
And it's partly down hill. Now I am ready to go!

** Note : Your Elegy must be 3-4 stanzas for this choice