Poetry is a Type of Ancient Poem, Know the Characteristics and Types

Kapanlagi.com - Poetry is one of the literary works that is widely loved. As we know, poetry also has various types. Based on its time, poetry is divided into old poetry and new poetry or modern poetry. Most of the poetry we find today is a type of new poetry. However, there are many types of old poetry. Syair is one of them.

As an old poem, syair is not as popular as new poetry. Even so, syair is also beautiful. The messages or meanings contained in syair can also evoke feelings. Like other types of old poetry, syair is an old poem that is still bound by certain conditions. Therefore, it is important to recognize the characteristics of syair.

In addition to characteristics, syair also has several types. To find out more about these syair details, read the following review that has been summarized from various sources.

1. Definition of Syair

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As mentioned earlier, syair is a literary work classified as ancient poetry. In the Great Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), the meaning of the word syair is ancient poetry where each stanza consists of four lines that end with the same sound. The definition in KBBI shows several conditions that must be fulfilled by a syair, including the number of lines, stanzas, and the sound at the end.

From its origin, syair is actually not an original poem or literary work from the Nusantara. Syair originated from the Arab tradition. In its original form, syair is known as Syi'ir or Syu'ur, which means a sense of awareness. However, there are also those who interpret syair from the word Syi'ru, which means poetry.

Although not an original Nusantara literary work, syair has been modified over time to fit the Malay culture. In Malay culture, syair is similar to other literary works that have practical value in conveying a story, advice, religion, love, and so on.

2. Unsur-Unsur Syair

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Not much different from other types of poetry or literary works, syair also consists of elements. Just like literary works in general, the elements in syair consist of two types, intrinsic elements and extrinsic elements. The parts of both intrinsic and extrinsic elements of syair are as follows.

1. Intrinsic Elements of Syair
The intrinsic elements in syair include:

1) Theme, which is the main idea or concept that the poet wants to convey through their work.

2) Message, which is the meaning, message, or advice that the poet wants to convey through their work.

3) Emotion, which is the poet's desire to express a certain feeling, perspective, character, and so on.

4) Tone, which is an intonation or emphasis in syair. The tone in syair can be mocking, advising, joking, joyful, criticizing, compassionate, and so on.

2. Extrinsic Elements of Syair
Meanwhile, the extrinsic elements in syair include:

1) Poet's background, such as family background, education, and so on.

2) Cultural and social background that influences the process and work of syair.

3) Customs or local customs that influence the process and work of syair.

3. Characteristic of Syair

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Syair is a part of old poetry. It means that this literary work is still bound by certain rules. These rules or requirements are apparent in the characteristics of the following syair.

1. One Stanza Consists of Four Lines
One of the main characteristics of syair is having four lines in one stanza. However, it should be understood that syair can consist of several stanzas.

2. One Line Consists of 4-6 Words and 8-12 Syllables
The number of words in one line of a syair is also limited, which is 4-6 words only. In addition, the number of syllables in one line is also limited to 8-12 syllables.

3. Each Line Represents the Content
Although both are old poems, syair and pantun have differences. One of them is in terms of content. In syair, each stanza represents the content, while in pantun there is a part of the line called sampiran, which is in the first and second lines of each stanza.

4. Rhyme a-a-a-a
Another characteristic and requirement of syair is having a rhyme of a-a-a-a at the end of each line. This is different from pantun, which has a rhyme of a-b-a-b.

5. Contains Messages and Stories
The content of syair usually takes the form of a story or tale. The story can be a myth, history, religion, philosophy, or even pure fiction. What is clear is that the story in syair usually contains advice or wise counsel.

4. Types of Poetry

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As mentioned earlier, there are several types of poetry. These types of poetry can be categorized based on the themes they address. The types of poetry are as follows.

1. Panji Poetry
Panji poetry is a type of poetry that tells stories about the conditions within the palace (kingdom), the situation of the people in or from the palace.

2. Religious Poetry
Another type of poetry is religious poetry. As the name suggests, religious poetry addresses religious themes, such as the teachings of Sufism. Broadly speaking, religious poetry is divided into four categories: Sufi poetry, poetry about Islamic teachings, poetry about the history of the Prophet, and advice poetry.

3. Romantic Poetry
Romantic poetry is a type of poetry that tells stories about love affairs. This type of poetry is commonly found in epics and folklore.

4. Historical Poetry
The fourth type of poetry is historical poetry. This poetry is derived from the most important historical events, such as wars.

5. Figurative Poetry
Figurative poetry is poetry that tells stories about love affairs in the form of metaphors. The love stories can be between fish, birds, flowers, and fruits. The figurative aspect can also be in the form of satire towards a certain event.

Those are some explanations about poetry, which is one of the ancient forms of poetry. Hopefully, this information is useful and can broaden your knowledge.

(kpl/psp)