Elements of Poetry 2013

Poetry Words are arranged carefully to communicate a message with emotion. Often has a very musical quality. Can tell a story; includes several story elements even if it doesn’t have a plot. For example, poems have a theme, mood, and tone. Poems are written in stanzas.

The Speaker Instead of a narrator, a poem has a speaker. This is the one involved in the action of the poem or telling the poem.

Sound Devices of Poetry Poems use specific sound devices in order the create the musical nature of poetry. We will focus on 6

Alliteration The repetition of beginning consonant sounds. Example: the sun-slappers the self-soilers --Gwendolyn Brooks

Assonance The repetition of vowel sounds within non- rhyming words. Example: – It’s had tacks in it. -- Langston Hughes

Consonance The repetition of consonant sounds at the ends of words and within words. – Example: Lonely afternoon In order for a line of poetry to create the sound effects produced by assonance, consonance, and alliteration, the words intended to create the sound effect must be near each other!

Rhyme The occurrence of similar or identical sounds at the ends of two or more words such as suite, heat, and complete. Internal Rhyme – rhyme that occurs within a single line of poetry. End Line Rhyme -- Rhyme that occurs at the ends of lines of poetry. Slant rhyme – rhyme that is not exact or seems a little bit off.

Rhyme Scheme A pattern of end rhymes in a poem. A rhyme scheme is noted by assigning a letter of the alphabet, beginning with A, to each line. There ain’t no pay beneath the sun As sweet as rest when a job’s well done. I was born to work up my grave But I was not born to be a slave – Maya Angelou

Meter The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a poem.

Onomatopoeia Words that imitate sounds. Buzz, hiss, woof

Poetry Uses Figurative Language to Create Image in the Reader’s Mind Similes Metaphors Hyperbole Personification – Giving Human qualities to something that is NOT human.

Forms of Poetry Narrative Poem – Tells a story Haiku – 3 line poem that follows specific rules; Line 1 has 5 syllables, Line2 has 7 syllables, and line 3 has 5 syllables; these poems are about nature, usually. Free Verse – Poems that have no specific format. Concrete – Poems that are structurally shaped like their subject.

Forms of Poetry Limerick -- A 5 line humorous poem that often has the rhyme scheme of AABBA. Lyric –a short poem in which a single speaker expresses personal thoughts and feelings. Historically, these were meant to be sung. Today, their primary purpose is NOT singing but they do have a melodic nature. Couplet – two lines that rhyme – pairs of rhyming lines.

Forms of Poetry Ballad – A narrative poem that tells a story and was originally meant to be sung or recited. Ballads often deal with adventure or romance.