Poetry

What is poetry? When you’re reading text, how do you know whether it’s poetry, a story, drama, etc.? What are the elements of poetry?

According to Merriam-webster’s dictionary… Poetry has two relevant definitions: Metrical writing Writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm

The poem below has 8 lines. The lines are organized into quatrains. Single lines are marked Often organized into stanzas 2 lines in a stanza is called a couplet 4 is a quatrain 5 is a cinquain Others numbers 3,6,7, etc. have names, but aren’t used as commonly. “To a Snowflake” Hello little snowflake! Where are all your friends? Should I expect a lot of them Before the morning ends? I love it when you come to me And you all fall down together And I get dressed to visit you, Toasty warm in cold, cold weather

Stanza Four stanzas in couplets Each stanza indicates a new image. A group of lines Often have 4, 5, or 6 lines Usually develops an idea Give poems structure Emphasizes different ideas Beginning a new stanza often signal the beginning of a new image, thought or idea “First and Last” by David McCord A tadpole hasn’t a pole at all, And he doesn’t live in a hole in the wall. You’ve got it all wrong: a polecat’s not A cat on a pole. And I’ll tell you what: A bullfrog’s never a bull; and how Could a cowbird possibly be a cow? A kingbird, though is a kind of king, And he chases a crow like anything. Each stanza indicates a new image.

A B Words rhyme when they have the same sound “Ten Minutes Till the Bus” by David L. Harrison Ten whole minutes Till the bus, Scads of time, What’s the fuss? Two to dress, One to flush, Two to eat, One to brush, That leaves four To catch the bus, Rhyme and Rhyme Scheme Words rhyme when they have the same sound Poems often use rhyme at the end of lines Rhyme scheme is a pattern of rhymes in a poem Poets use rhyme to add a musical sound to their poems A B

Rhythm From “Windy Nights” by Robert Louis Stevenson Whenever the moon and stars are set, Whenever the wind is high, All night long in the dark and wet, A man goes riding by. Late in the night when the fires are out, Why does he gallop and gallop about? Rhythm Pattern of beats or a series of stressed and unstressed syllables in poem Poets create rhythm by using words in which parts are emphasized or not emphasized. The red letters are what’s stressed.

Free Verse “Blossoms” by Walter Dean Myers Poetry written without a regular rhyme, rhythm, and form Sounds natural, just like everyday conversation. Poets use free verse because it allows them to experiment with shapes and sound in their poetry “Blossoms” by Walter Dean Myers I never dreamt That tender blossoms Would be brown Or precious angels Could come down To live in the garden Of my giving heart But here you are Brown angel No rhyme or regular rhythm, but definitely a poem

Hello, it's me I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet To go over everything They say that time's supposed to heal ya But I ain't done much healing6 Hello, can you hear me? I'm in California dreaming about who we used to be When we were younger and free I've forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet3 There's such a difference between us And a million miles Hello from the other side I must've called a thousand times To tell you I'm sorry For everything that I've done But when I call you never Seem to be home Lyrical Poetry Poetry written with a regular rhyme, rhythm, and form Can easily be put to a musical beat Even though, first and foremost, you may see this as a song, it was first a poem.

Narrative Poetry Poetry written to tell a story It could also be lyrical, free verse, etc. Can contain any number of lines, types of stanzas, rhythm, rhyme scheme, etc. Green Eggs and Ham by: Dr. Seuss I am Sam. Sam I am. That Sam I am! Do you like Green Eggs and Ham? I do not like them, I do not like green eggs and ham. Would you like them here or there? I would not like them here or there. I would not like them anywhere. In addition to Dr. Seuss, many children’s stories can be considered narrative poetry.

Limerick This type of poem is usually not school appropriate. There once was an old man from Peru Who dreamed he was eating his shoe He awoke in the night With a terrible fright, And found that it was quite true. Limerick Poetry written with a prescribed rhythm, rhyme scheme, and length Always five lines long Lines 1, 2, & 5 rhyme and are 8- 9 syllables Lines 3 & 4 rhyme using a different sound and are 5-6 syllables This type of poem is usually not school appropriate.

Poems use figurative language Alliteration – repetition of consonant sounds Imagery – Language that appeals to 5 senses Hyperbole – extreme exaggeration Simile – comparing to unlike things using comparison words Metaphor – comparing to unlike things by saying one is the other Onomatopoeia – use of words that sound like the noises they describe Personification – giving inanimate objects human-like qualities Idiom – an everyday saying that doesn’t mean exactly what it says Symbol – concrete symbol that stands for something more, something abstract

Mood Mood is the feeling that a poem creates for the reader “Poor” by Myra Livingston I heard of poor. It means hungry, no food. No shoes, no place to live, Nothing good. It means winter nights And being cold, It is lonely, alone. Feeling old. Poor is a tired face. Poor is thin. Poor is standing outside Looking in. Mood is the feeling that a poem creates for the reader Can be positive or negative. Length of sentences, the words chosen, punctuation, and sounds of words all effect mood. Short words and lines create a serious mood Words create a feeling of sadness

tone Tone is the attitude the writer takes to toward the subject or audience “The Crocodile” How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail, And pour the water of the Nile On every golden scale! How cheerfully he seems to grin, How neatly spreads his claws, And welcomes little fishes in With gently smiling jaws! The subject of the poem is crocodiles. The author’s attitude towards the crocodiles is that they are dangerous.