Didactic

Didactic poetry is educational poetry that is meant to teach something specific to the reader, or to generally increase the reader’s knowledge. Here is a segment of a didactic poem by Alexander Pope warning that if you are going to learn something make sure you learn it well, as knowing only a little can be dangerous:

A little Learning is a dang'rous Thing;

Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian Spring:

There shallow Draughts intoxicate the Brain,

And drinking largely sobers us again.

Fir'd at first Sight with what the Muse imparts,

In fearless Youth we tempt the Heights of Arts,

While from the bounded Level of our Mind,

Short Views we take, nor see the lengths behind,

But more advanc'd, behold with strange Surprize

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