Difference Between Poems and Short Stories

Some of the great writers in history are defined as poets, and their use of language is not the same as those famed for their short stories. In a short story, an author employs the same type of language that any person of their time and culture might use to write a story, whereas a poet structures language very differently, using techniques such as rhythm (or meter) and rhyme. Poets can also write from a specific and abstract point of view, where short story writers usually write from a universally understandable point of view for readers. When studying these various styles of writing in high school, it is important to understand the major differences between the two and try to master different forms of writing.

Short Stories

A short story is usually written in fictional prose. Fictional writing can be defined as any narrative that is not based in fact. Prose language is standard written language, the same sort of writing you would use in a letter to a friend. The word "prosaic" can be used to refer to the dull or commonplace, but that does not mean prose language has to be boring, as the range of great short stories written through the ages proves.

As the name suggests, a short story is far shorter and less involved than a full-length novel and might, for example, involve the setup and resolution of a specific situation, rather than the detailed exploration of characters that is common in a novel. Some popular forms of short stories are found in novellas, which are shorter pieces of writing than a full book but longer than an extensive poem. Having a talent for creative writing is also important when writing a work of fiction to best enhance the storyline as well.

Poems

The word "poetry" comes from the ancient Greek verb "to create." While a short story is usually written in recognizable sentences, a poem is composed of lines, which may not observe the usual grammatical rules. Furthermore, rather than being organized into paragraphs, a poem is made up of verses, or stanzas. Laid out on a page, a poem will not resemble the prose used in a novel or short story. In a poem, words are often chosen not just for their functional, prose meaning, but for their sound, or feel.

Some of the most famous poets we study in schools and when dissecting prose poetry, Edgar Allan Poe and Robert Frost come to mind. Poems can come in many different forms as well and are often very distinguishable when compared to short fiction stories. Some of these prose poems include free verse, haiku, iambic and more.

Example of the Beginning of a Short Story

"In the old days Hortons Bay was a lumbering town. No one who lived in it was out of sound of the big saws in the mill by the lake. Then one year there were no more logs to make lumber." -- "The End of Something" by Ernest Hemingway

Example of the Beginning of a Poem

April is the cruellest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. Winter kept us warm, covering Earth in forgetful snow, feeding A little life with dried tubers. -- "The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot