Odes — Form, Types, and Examples

Written by

Daniel Bal

February 13, 2024

Edited by

Courtney Adamo

Fact-checked by

Paul Mazzola

What is an ode?

An ode is a lyric poem that uses a formal tone to praise or dedicate someone or something (idea or event) that captures the poet's interest or serves as an inspiration. The poet exaggeratedly pays tribute to the subject by bringing it to life and speaking to it.

Odes are one type of lyric poetry, along with elegies and sonnets.

Odes were originally performed publicly to celebrate Greek athletic victories, sometimes to music and dance. English Romantic poets later adopted odes to express their emotions through descriptive language.

Form of an ode

The format of an ode depends upon the type. Technically, there is no specific length, rhyme scheme, or meter; however, poets can incorporate a rhyme scheme and/or metrical pattern at their discretion.

Types of odes

There are three main types of ode form: Pindaric, Horatian, and Irregular.

Pindaric

• Origin: Also known as the Greek ode, the Pindaric ode derives its name from ancient Greek poet Pindar, who lived in the 5th century BCE. He mainly wrote songs that were performed on stage by dancers and singers, sometimes called a choral ode. They regained popularity in England during the 17th and 18th centuries.

• Content: Pindaric odes were typically composed in connection with important events in ancient Greece, such as the Greek classical games. They would pay tribute to the young men who were successful in the games, often praising them as heroes.

• Structure: Pindaric odes have no set length, meter, or rhyme. Instead, they have three parts that correspond with the movement of the chorus in a Greek play.

  • Strophe: Meaning “turn,” the chorus moved from the right to the left of the stage while reciting the strophe.

  • Antistrophe: The chorus moved from the left to the right of the stage. The antistrophe has the same length and metrical pattern as the strophe. Antistrophe means “to turn back” and serves as a response to the strophe.

  • Epode: The chorus moves to the middle of the stage. The epode has a different length and metrical pattern than the strophe and antistrophe.

Horatian

• Origin: Developed by the Latin poet Horace around the 1st century BCE, Horatian odes were developed as a response to Pindaric odes. Horace preferred writing odes that were gentle and serene with subtle irony and gentle humor.

• Content: Horatian odes detail a tone of tranquility and contemplation used for meditative purposes. They usually reflect upon ideas related to friendship, love, and writing poetry.

• Structure: The stanzas of a Horatian ode are made up of either two or four lines each. Each stanza follows the same rhyme and meter, although including a specific rhyme scheme and metrical pattern is up to the poet.

Irregular

• Origin: Abraham Crowley introduced irregular odes in 1656 because he wanted to retain the serious subject matter but wanted greater structural freedom than the Pindaric ode allowed.

• Content: Irregular odes are universally relatable, as they focus on everyday objects and ideas such as love or nature. Poets do not limit themselves to serious or lofty ideas in these odes, as they can often be silly or quite simple.

• Structure: Unlike Pindaric and Horatian odes, irregular odes do not use any patterns, such as rhyme scheme or meter, and may have an irregular stanza pattern.

Ode examples

The following examples of odes include the three main types:

Here is an example of a Pindaric ode from an excerpt of “Ode on Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood” by William Wordsworth:

An example of a Horatian ode from “Ode to the Confederate Dead” by Allen Tate:

Finally, here is an Irregular ode from “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats: