Introduction to Poetry

Need a starter kit to get to know Malay Poetry? Watch the resource videos here by local poets Farihan Bahron and Dr Noridah Kamari for a beginner-friendly crash course. The videos will give a quick introduction to Malay Poetry as well as the use of literary devices such as rhyme, rhythm and symbols! At the end of each video, try out the writing exercises to see how much you’ve learnt!

You can download this activity sheet for additional exercises (in Malay) after watching the resource videos. Use this free-to-download worksheet to test your newly acquired skills in poetry writing!

Download here!

15 September 2021

Online

Organised by:
Singapore Book Council

Commissioned by:
#BuySingLit

Supported by:
National Arts Council

Versions

Malay

Topic: What is Poetry?

Definition of poetry
Traditional Malay poetry
Modern Malay poetry

Topic: Why write Poetry?

As a form of personal expression
Documenting thoughts and emotions
Sharing insights and observations
Deliverance of message

Topic: Rhyme and Rhythm

What is rhyme and rhythm?
How to form rhyme and rhythm?

Topic:

Symbols and its Meaning

Symbols in poetry
Creative interpretation of its meaning

Lembaran Aktiviti

ABOUT SPEAKERS

Farihan Bahron

Farihan Bahron, recipient of the 2017 Promising Award (Malay Literary Award), has won several competitions including the 1998 Peraduan Asah Bakat Competition (First Prize – Poetry), the 2000 Anugerah Pena Bakti Award (Third Prize – Poetry), 2003 Golden Point Award (Second Prize – Poetry), 2015 Golden Point Award ( First Prize – Poetry and Short Stories), the 2016 Mencari Kristal (Third Prize – Short Story), 2017 National Poetry Competition (Merit) and the 2020 Kata-Pilar Poetry Competition (Grand Prize). At the 2018 Singapore Literature Prize, Tukang Tunjuk Telunjuk (Finger-Pointing Expert) won the Malay poetry category while his short story collection, Kesumat Sang Avatar (The Avatar's Wrath), received the Commendation Prize (Malay fiction). Farihan has also been active in writing lyrics for the Singapore Dikir Barat scene since 1996 and has received the Best Lyrics trophy 14 times.

Dr Noridah Kamari

Noridah holds a PhD in Malay literature from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and is the co-owner of the publishing outfit Unggun Creative. She has taught Malay literature at several institutions, such as the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). Her research interests are in literary history, traditional Malay literature, and creative writing. As a writer, Noridah has won several awards, including Malay Literary Award and Promising Young Writer Award (2013) from the Malay Language Council, Singapore (MLCS).