POETRY TERMS

TYPES OF POETRY

Narrative Poetry A narrative poem tells a story using a plot, characters, dialogue, setting, and theme. Tells a story more musically than a prose story (more memorable).

From “Jimmy and His TV Set” by Shel Silverstein I’ll tell you the story of Jimmy Jet – And you know what I tell you is true. He loved to watch his TV set Almost as much as you... What makes the beginning of this lyric poem different from a prose narration?

Lyric Poetry A lyric poem expresses the thoughts and feelings of the poem’s speaker (the one who says its words). Used to be sung to music, but now rely on their own music created through rhythm and sound.

From “One Inch Tall” by Shel Silverstein If you were only one inch tall, you'd ride a worm to school. The teardrop of a crying ant would be your swimming pool. A crumb of cake would be a feast And last you seven days at least, A flea would be a frightening beast If you were one inch tall. What helps to generate the music of this poem?

Special Forms of Poetry A poetic form is a special way of arranging the lines and stanzas of a poem. Forms include the appearance of the poem and also the sound of its rhymes and rhythms. Limerick - a short, funny poem of five lines; the first, second and fifth lines rhyme and have the same rhythm, and the third and fourth lines rhyme and have the same rhythm. Haiku – a Japanese verse form with three lines of five, seven, and five syllables each Concrete poem – a poem whose words take the shape of the poem’s subject.

Limericks There once was a Thingamajig – Like a Whatsis, but three times as big. When it first came in view It looked something like you But it stayed and turned into a pig. Speedy Sam, while exploring a cave, Had what I call a very close shave. He stepped on a bear, That had dozed off in there. I’m glad he was faster than brave.

Haiku Green and speckled legs Hop on logs and lily pads Splash in cool water Snowflakes are our friends They descend when winter comes Making white blankets

Concrete Poem Ampersand Dove

SOUND DEVICES, TONE, FORM, & FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Sound Devices Sound devices are ways of adding music to poetry. Rhyme – the similarity of final sounds in accented syllables, as in roar and before Onomatopoeia – the use of words like hush and buzz that sound like what they mean. Alliteration – the repetition of consonant or vowel sounds in the beginning or accented syllables of nearby words.  “Constant clatter and clash.”

From “Parade” by Rachel Field... Till leisurely and last of all Camels and elephants will pass Beneath our elms, along our grass. Which sound devices are in these lines?

Tone The tone is the author’s attitude or feeling about the subject of the poem and the audience. An author’s tone can be amused, angry, or superior, among many other possibilities.

From “Walrus and the Carpenter” by Lewis Carroll “The time has come,” the Walrus said, “To talk of many things: Of shoes – and ships – and sealing wax – Of cabbages – and kings – Would you describe the tone of this stanza as serious or amused? Why?

Figurative Language Poems also make great use of figurative language, words not meant in their exact dictionary sense, to take you by surprise. Simile – a comparison using like or as Metaphor – describes one thing as if it were another Personification – gives human qualities to something nonhuman

From “April Rain Song” by Langston Hughes The rain makes running pools in the gutter. The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night... What type of figurative language does this passage contain?

Form A line is a single row of words in a poem. It’s like a sentence in a paragraph.  line : poem :: sentence : essay A stanza is a group of lines of poetry that are usually similar in length and pattern. They are separated by spaces. It’s like a paragraph in an essay.  stanza : poem :: paragraph : essay

“I Think My Dad is Dracula” by Ken Nesbitt I think my dad is Dracula. I know that sounds insane, but listen for a moment and allow me to explain. We don't live in a castle, and we never sleep in caves. But, still, there's something weird about the way my dad behaves. I never see him go out in the daytime when it's light. He sleeps all day till evening, then he leaves the house at night. He comes home in the morning saying, "Man, I'm really dead!" He kisses us goodnight, and then by sunrise he's in bed. My mom heard my suspicion and she said, "You're not too swift. Your father's not a vampire. He just works the graveyard shift." Line Stanza