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A Simile to explain poetry Poetry is like a circus. Poetry is like a circus. Full of color, motion, and excitement
Poetry appeals to our senses Pleasing to the eyes Pleasing to the eyes Sings to the ears Sings to the ears Tickles the taste buds Tickles the taste buds
What is Prose? Prose Prose Short stories, novels, newspapers, any type of essay Longer, looser works or paragraphs Everything poetry is not!
What does Poetry do? Squeezes meaning into a short number of lines and words Squeezes meaning into a short number of lines and words Ends in a specific place to make a special effect Ends in a specific place to make a special effect Stanzas Stanzas
Language of the Poet Suggestion Suggestion Exaggeration Exaggeration Comparison Comparison
Poetry also… Poetry inspires the reader to look at the world in new ways Poetry inspires the reader to look at the world in new ways Poetry expresses feeling Poetry expresses feeling Brief, rhythmic, colorful Brief, rhythmic, colorful Tells stories in a compact fashion Tells stories in a compact fashion
Basic Elements of Poetry Sound Sound Figurative Language Figurative Language Form Form Imagery Imagery Speaker Speaker
Sound Words are used to create appealing sounds. Words are used to create appealing sounds. Four Techniques: Four Techniques: Rhyme Rhythm Repetition Onomatopoeia
Rhyme The repetition of the same or similar sounds in words that appear near each other in a poem. The repetition of the same or similar sounds in words that appear near each other in a poem. End Rhyme: rhyme that comes at the end of lines Perfect Rhyme: Rhymes that after their first consonant sounds, their remaining sounds are alike
Rhyme Scheme The pattern of end rhymes in a poem. The pattern of end rhymes in a poem. Lowercase letters describe the scheme. A limerick is aabba. The first two lines rhyme, the second two lines rhyme, and the first two rhyme with the last.
Rhythm The pattern of beats made by stressed or unstressed syllables in the lines of a poem The pattern of beats made by stressed or unstressed syllables in the lines of a poem Meter-regular stressed and unstressed beats
Refrain A line or group of lines repeated at regular intervals, appears in some songs and poems A line or group of lines repeated at regular intervals, appears in some songs and poems Example : “The Cremation of Sam McGee”
Repetition The repeated use of sounds, words, phrases, or lines The repeated use of sounds, words, phrases, or lines Emphasizes important items and helps unify a poem or other work of literature
Onomatopoeia The use of words whose sounds suggest their meanings. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meanings. Crack, boom, bang!
Figurative Language Poet uses language that stretches words beyond their usual meaning Poet uses language that stretches words beyond their usual meaning Alliteration, simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, personification, symbolism, etc.
Form The way a poem looks on a page. The way a poem looks on a page. Poems are written in lines or shapes Poems are written in lines or shapes Stanzas-lines grouped together Run-on lines (, ; : ) End-stopped lines (. ? ! )
Form Free Verse Free Verse No pattern or structure Sounds like conversation Specific Forms Specific Forms Limerick, Diamonte, Shape, etc.
Traditional Any poem that follows the strict structure and rules of traditional form Any poem that follows the strict structure and rules of traditional form Usually begin each line with a capital letter. Written in basic lines and stanzas unless it is a specific form (ex. Haiku)
Modern Poetry Poems that do not have to follow a specific, traditional structure Poems that do not have to follow a specific, traditional structure Comes in many forms Capital letters to begin lines are not required No set structure or form followed
Narrative Poetry Narrative poetry is a specific form that tells a story Narrative poetry is a specific form that tells a story Setting, characters & plot
Concrete Poetry Poetry that uses typography or placement of letters and words to create an image. Poetry that uses typography or placement of letters and words to create an image. Shapes are suggested or revealed
Imagery Image or mental picture that is created with words which appeal to one or more of the senses Image or mental picture that is created with words which appeal to one or more of the senses sight, sound, taste, touch, smell are affected as you read
Speaker The voice that relates the story or ideas of the poem The voice that relates the story or ideas of the poem Poet Person who writes poetry (not always the speaker)Person who writes poetry (not always the speaker) Speaker may be… Speaker may be… Poet Character or voice
Meaning The central idea or emotion behind the poem The central idea or emotion behind the poem Restate the poem in your own words, paraphrase, ask yourself is the poem about a person? Place? Thing? Feeling? Idea? What emotion do you feel when you read the poem? Who is the speaker?
Tone Writer’s attitude toward his or her subject matter. The feeling the author projects from the words chosen. Writer’s attitude toward his or her subject matter. The feeling the author projects from the words chosen. Examples: Examples: Angry, humorous, factual (Mood is the feeling the reader gets from the work. Ex. eerie, suspenseful, joyful)
Reading Poetry Strategies Preview the poem and read it aloud a few times. Preview the poem and read it aloud a few times. Visualize the images. Visualize the images. Clarify the words and phrases. Clarify the words and phrases. Evaluate the poem’s theme. Evaluate the poem’s theme. Let your understanding grow. Let your understanding grow.