UPSC

What is poetry? Poetry, also known as verse, is a type of literature that utilises sound and images to express ideas and feelings. There are various types of poetry, from haikus, limericks, riddles, sonnets and so on. The earliest form of poetry was called epic poems, and it dates backs to hundreds of centuries. Poems can paint a picture in our minds or make us feel a certain way. It was originally recited, or spoken aloud to an audience. One of the most popular forms of writing short poems is the haiku. “Haiku” is a traditional form of Japanese poetry. Haiku poems consist of three lines. The first and last lines of a Haiku have five syllables and the middle line has seven syllables. The lines rarely rhyme. Mahabharata is the longest poem in the world. It is an Indian epic poem which has around 1.8 million words. The Epic is one of the earliest types of poetry. It is a long, narrative poem that is usually about heroic deeds and events that ar...

Does reading fiction help us be better people? THE BEAUTIFUL lines in novels, movies and TV sows often have powerful effects in people's minds. Some believe reading fiction and watching TV can make them a better person. Various studies have proved this in infact true.  Fiction enhances our ability to understand other people. It promotes a deep ethicality that cuts across religious and political faiths. Many researchers have proved that fictional stories can really change our views. As the psychologist Raymond Mar writes, "Researchers have repeatedly found that reader attitudes shift to become more congruent with the ideas expressed in a (fiction) narrative."  Like books, TV shows too leave a deep impact on a person's mind. For example, when a TV serial shows how gay families are treated without judgment (say, Modern Family), our own views in homosexuality also tend to move in the same nonjudgmental direction.  Reading fiction, on the other hand, helps you ...