Poetry An Introduction

Webster’s Dictionary Definition: Poetry (n.) Compositions designed to convey a vivid and imaginative sense of experience, characterized by the use of condensed language, chosen for its sound and suggestive use of condensed language, chosen for its sound and suggestive power as well as its meaning, and by the use of such literary techniques as structured meter, natural cadences, rhyme, or metaphor.

Poetry Quotes “Things that are true expressed in words that are beautiful.” --Dante “The best words in the best order.” -- Samuel Taylor Coleridge “The spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.” --William Wordsworth “Emotion put into measure.” --Thomas Hardy

First Read Through- Annotation 1. Circle and define any unknown words. •-Poetry is about word choice, so not knowing one word can alter the meaning entirely •-Think about why an author uses certain words over others 2. Summarize each section/stanza. •-Check your comprehension of each individual stanza • -Note if the stanzas flow together to tell a story, or not 3. Underline/highlight key phrases and literary devices. • -Note key phrases that help prove what the poem is about • -Highlight major metaphors/similes and other poetry terms, such as alliteration, rhyme scheme, etc… 4. Determine the universal theme(s). •-Remember that a theme cannot be one word – a full theme • -You should always be able to support your interpretation • -A universal theme should be a message about life that everyone can learn from 5. KEEP READING until you get it!

TP-CASTT Interpreting Poetry

TP-CASTT T itle P araphrase C onnotation A ttitude S hifts T itle T heme

Steps to Understanding a Poem Look at the t itle and attempt to predict what the poem will be about P araphrase the literal meaning/plot of the poem Attempt to identify the c onnotation (emotional meaning) by looking at all poetic devices and HOW the devices contribute to the meaning

Interpreting Poetry After examining the poetic devices, explore the a ttitude present in the poem. It is the poet’s feelings towards the poem’s subject. Rarely do poets begin and end in the same place- therefore, look for s hifts in the poem: Key words, punctuation, stanza division, changes in lines, irony, effect of structure on meaning, changes in sound, changes in diction

Interpreting Poetry Examine the t itle again, on an interpretive level Identify the t heme by recognizing human experience, motivation, or condition suggested by the poem.

SOAPSTone Speaker: Who is the speaker of the poem? What do you know about him or her? Occasion: What is the occasion of the poem? What is the event that prompts the speaker to speak? Audience: To whom is the speaker speaking? What do you know about him or her? Purpose: What is the purpose of the poem? Why do you think the poet wrote the poem?

SOAPSTone Subject: What is the subject of the poem? (This is a different from "what is the topic of the poem?") Tone: What is the tone of the poem? What is the speaker’s attitude toward the subject of the poem? Theme: What is the theme of the poem? What is the poet pointing out about people, society, or life? State the theme!

THEME & POETIC DEVICES List poetic devices So What?/Theme of poem? Theme: What is the theme of the poem? What is the poet pointing out about people, society, or life? State the theme!

Poetry Survey What’s your favorite poem? What do you like about poems? What do you dislike about poems? What poems did you read last year? What types of poetry would you like to read this year? Specific subjects?