A short poem lamenting the death of someone is

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the type of short poem that laments a death. The key words are "short poem," "lamenting," and "death."

Step 2: Explain the concepts (look at each option)

• Ode: A lyrical poem written in praise of a person, object, or idea (e.g., Keats's "Ode to a Nightingale"). It praises and does not specifically mourn a death.
• Threnody: A song, hymn, or poem of lamentation for the dead. The word comes from the Greek threnos (wailing) and ode (song). It fits the question exactly.
• Sonnet: A 14-line poem with a set rhyme scheme. It can cover any theme, such as love, nature, or death, but it is defined by its form, not by mourning.
• Epic: A long narrative poem about the deeds of heroes (e.g., Beowulf, The Odyssey). It is not short and is not a lament.

Step 3: Solve Lament for the dead plus a poem form means threnody.

Related terms to know:

• Elegy: A reflective poem mourning someone's death (very close in meaning to a threnody, and often the answer in similar questions).
• Dirge: A mournful song for a funeral.
• Requiem: A mass or hymn for the dead.

Here, "elegy" is not among the options, so the best choice is B. a threnody.

Exam tip: Remember the "death" family: elegy, dirge, threnody, requiem, all linked to mourning. Remember "ode = praise" and "epic = long heroic story." That helps you eliminate wrong options quickly.