Arts >> Art >> Performance Art

How to Write a Dramatic Poem

A dramatic poem is a story-telling form that has its roots in theater. Most drama was written in verse until the 19th century. Playwrights thought verse portrayed emotion, character and motivation better than prose. If you would like to write your own dramatic poem to read aloud, begin by first researching some of the greatest dramatic poets, such as William Shakespeare and William Butler Yeats.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper
  • Pencil
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Brainstorm a subject for your dramatic poem. Some of the classic themes used in dramatic poetry include love, war, hatred and betrayal. Use the subject to write a brief story that will be told by the poem.

    • 2

      Write a list of the characters who will be in the poem. Briefly write a description of each character, including his motives and intentions.

    • 3

      Compose the dialogue for your poem. Try to capture in the dialogue the entirety of the story you created in Step 1, using the characters from Step 2 to convey the story through their speech and interaction.

    • 4

      Read through the poem. Change any vague words and phrases to make the poem as specific and verbally potent as possible. Edit the poem for grammatical errors.

    • 5

      Write a final draft of the poem on a fresh piece of paper.

    • 6

      Read the poem aloud in front of a test audience. Ask the audience if they understood the poem's meaning and plot. Make any necessary adjustments to the poem.

Performance Art

Related Categories