Poetry Unit 2016 Week 1

How do we approach poetry? Dead Poets’ Society Clip “On Poetry”

Imagine that a teacher is the speaker of the following poem and talking about his students… “Introduction to Poetry” By Billy Collins

That poem was written by poet Billy Collins. How is his view of poetry different from the Introduction to Poetry that the teacher in the video had his students read & tear out? I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide Poetry is meant to be studied and looked at closely—what images is the poet creating? What figurative language did Collins use to illustrate this idea?

or press an ear against its hive. What do we think of when we read the word “hive?” So the speaker is saying to listen to the sounds in a poem—alliteration, rhyme, rhythm, onomatopoeia.

I say drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out, Imagine a mouse in maze—he has to explore the space and figure it out. That what readers of poetry have to do! Look at the structure of the poem.

or walk inside the poem’s room and feel the walls for a light switch. Did you know that “stanza” is Italian for “room?” Sometimes we may not understand everything in a poem, but keep looking for a part that you do get—it could be the “light switch” that helps make the whole thing more clear!

I want them to waterski across the surface of a poem waving at the author’s name on the shore. Waterskiiing is FUN! So what is Collins saying about poetry? What figurative language is the speaker using to illustrate this? What might “waving at the author’s name” mean?

But all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it. Torture is NOT fun. So what is the speaker saying that students tend to do with poetry?

They begin beating it with a hose to find out what it really means. Ouch! Beating is NOT fun either! So according to this speaker, summarize how readers should and should not approach poetry.

So instead of making poetry an unpleasant chore…find your voice! Dead Poets’ Society Clip “Find Your Voice”

Poetry Terms Flipbooks (see Poetry Terms ppt)

Before reading “Change” “Message from a Caterpillar” and “Fog” Imagery – created through the use of sensory language sight hearing touch smell Taste Refrain – repetition of words and phrases Emphasis of words or ideas Establishes a mood Develops rhythm Metaphor – comparison of two things without using the words “like” or “as” Simile – comparison using “like” or “as”

SIFT A Strategy for Analyzing Poetry S - Symbol An object, person, or place that has meaning within itself but stands for something else in the context of the selection I - Imagery When an image is evoked through the use of descriptive language that appeals to your five senses F - Figurative language Includes (but is not limited to) simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification, repetition, alliteration, etc. T - Tone & Theme Tone is the attitude an author takes on the subject he/she is writing about. Theme is the underlying message the author conveys.

What details in this painting suggest changes? The Farewell (1952), Bernard Perlin.

Monarch butterfly in chrysalis – The chrysalis (or pupa) stage is part of the life cycle of a butterfly. A butterfly lays eggs which hatch into larvae (caterpillars). They eat plants and spin silk threads, which they use to form a cocoon. There a caterpillar undergoes a major transformation, finally emerging as an adult butterfly.

Golden Gate Bridge in fog– This bridge spans the San Francisco Bay, connecting San Francisco to the southern tip of Marin County. It is an enduring symbol of the City by the Bay.

It’s your turn to write! You CAN write poetry. Dead Poets’ Society Clip “Original Poetry”

Imagery Poem -Begin each line with capital letter -7 lines total -Punctuation -Need 2 poems Title Brainstorm: Today I feel ____ because of _____________. Line 1: Choose an emotion, and assign it a color.Example: “Elation is Yellow” Line 2: Explain how it smells Line 3: Explain how it tastes Line 4: Explain how it sounds Line 5: Explain how it feels Line 6: Explain how it looks Line 7: (Emotion) is (add a metaphoric statement) Example: “Elation is fireworks in your soul.” Imagery

Imagery Poem Example: Fear Fear is red. It smells like fire. Tastes like rotten peaches. Sounds like honking horns. It feels like being scared of the dark. It looks like Freddy Krueger. Fear is falling into a hole.

Once you’ve chosen one emotion, think of a CONTRASTING emotion (complete opposite or different). Example: Emotions that contrast with fear— Security Confidence Boldness And write an imagery poem about that emotion, so that you have a pair of poems that contrast one another.

Paired Imagery Poem Examples: Peacefulness Peacefulness is bright blue. It smells like fresh air. Tastes like water. Sounds like soothing music. Feels like gliding over a tranquil lake. Looks like a slowing dove. Peacefulness is sleeping on a cloud. Eagerness Eagerness is bright red. It smells like nothing—yet. Tastes like baked dirt. Sounds like a growing growl. Feels like waiting for the sun to come up. Looks like everything. Eagerness is a tilted domino.

Paired Imagery Poem Examples: Peace Peace is baby blue. It smells like many scented candles. Tastes like fresh water. Sounds like whistling wind. Feels like floating on water. Looks like the pink and orange sun rises. Peace is being wrapped in a blanket made of clouds. Embarrassment Embarrassment is sea foam green. It smells like wilting flowers. Tastes like plain seaweed. Sounds like rain falling. Feels like color rushing to your face. Looks like people laughing at you. Embarrassment is your secret being spilt.

Paired Imagery Poem Examples: Curiosity Curiosity is lime green. It smells like cookies meant for a visitor. Tastes like the most delicious meal—you weren’t supposed to have. Sounds like crackling leaves. Feels like craving to explore. Looks like a foal rolling in a field. Curiosity is a little wiggly puppy chasing a butterfly. Mystery Mystery is black. It smells like mist. Tastes spinach and green beans. Sounds like a loud, dark, and scary thunderstorm. Feels like dipping your toes in cold water. Looks like winter’s daybreak. Mystery is an eerie feeling building up inside you...

Imagery Poem -Begin each line with capital letter -7 lines total -Punctuation -Need 2 poems Title Brainstorm: Today I feel ____ because of _____________. Line 1: Choose an emotion, and assign it a color. Example: “Elation is Yellow” Line 2: Explain how it smells Line 3: Explain how it tastes Line 4: Explain how it sounds Line 5: Explain how it feels Line 6: Explain how it looks Line 7: (Emotion) is (add a metaphoric statement) Example: “Elation is fireworks in your soul.” Imagery