When did poetry originate? What was the earliest poem like?
Poetry originated from the early human way of expressing emotions and thinking, which can be traced back to ancient Egypt around 1000 B.C. The earliest poems developed from oral traditions. They were usually simple songs and hymns used to express emotions such as religion, politics, and love. For example, the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt would write hymns to thank the gods for their blessings or describe their dynasties and palaces. In ancient Greece and Rome, poetry was used as a part of literature to express political views, philosophical thinking, religious beliefs, and so on. The earliest forms of poetry were usually simple songs or incantations without words, passed down through oral transmission. As time passed, the forms of poetry continued to develop and evolve into many different types of poetry, such as lyric poetry, narrative poetry, epic poetry, fairy tales, and so on. Today, poetry is still one of the most popular forms of literature, widely read and studied.