Introduction to Poetry

“The Naming of Cats” by T.S. Eliot The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter, It isn't just one of your holiday games; You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES. First of all, there's the name that the family use daily, Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James, Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey-- All of them sensible everyday names. There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter, Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames: Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter-- But all of them sensible everyday names. But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular, A name that's peculiar, and more dignified, Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular, Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride? Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum, Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat, Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum- Names that never belong to more than one cat. But above and beyond there's still one name left over, And that is the name that you never will guess; The name that no human research can discover-- But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess. When you notice a cat in profound meditation, The reason, I tell you, is always the same: His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name: His ineffable effable Effanineffable Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

Essential Questions What are the characteristics of a poem? What are the different types of poems? How do poets use figurative language?

What is a poem? Words arranged in lines, meant to be spoken aloud, with rhythm and sometimes rhyme. The words often express emotion or life experiences.

What are the characteristics of a poem? Line – Lines of poetry are either run-on (no punctuation at the end) or end- stopped (punctuation at the end of the line). When reading poetry, the reader should read the lines according to the punctuation. “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.” - William Shakespeare

Characteristics Cont. Stanzas: a stanza is a division in poetry marked with spaces between the lines. “The Road Not Taken” Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, -Robert Frost

Characteristics Cont. Literal Language – the words mean what they say Figurative Language – language that has deeper or hidden meaning used to creatively express ideas, thoughts, or emotions. Speaker – the voice of the poem Diction – word choice the poet uses to achieve clarity and effectiveness

Rhythm Rhythm is the flow of the beat in a poem Gives poetry a musical feel Can be fast or slow depending on mood and subject of the poem You can measure rhythm in meter by counting the beats in each line

Rhythm Example The Pickety Fence by David McCord The pickety fence Give it a lick it's A clickety fence Give it a lick it's a lickety fence Give it a lick With a rickety stick pickety Pickety pick.

Rhythm Example: Where Are You Now? When the night begins to fall And the sky begins to glow You look up and see the tall City of lights begin to grow – In rows and little golden squares The lights come out. First here, then there Behind the windowpanes as though A million billion bees had built Their golden hives and honeycombs Above you in the air. By Mary Britton Miller

Example: hat, cat, brat, fat, mat, sat Rhyme: The repetition of sounds End rhyme- the last word on each line rhymes. Example: hat, cat, brat, fat, mat, sat My Beard by Shel Silverstein My beard grows to my toes, I never wears no clothes, I wraps my hair Around my bare, And down the road I goes. Internal rhyme- Words INSIDE the sentence rhyme.

Poetry Terms Metaphor – points out a resemblance between two unlike things Bob is snake. Sara is a mouse when it comes to standing up for herself.

Poetry Terms Simile – a comparison of two unlike things using the words like or as Danielle is as graceful as a cat. Without coffee, Mrs. Gondik is like an angry lion.

Poetry Terms Implied Metaphor – a suggested comparison; one that is not directly stated Mrs. Gondik barked commands at her students.

Poetry Terms Alliteration – the repetition of sounds at the beginning of words We often call them “tongue-twisters” “How much dew could a dewdrop drop if a dewdrop did drop dew?”

Onomatopoeia Words that spell our sounds; word that sound like what they mean. Examples: growl, hiss, pop, boom, crack, ptthhhbb

Let’s see what this looks like in a poem. Noise Day by Shel Silverstein Let’s have one day for girls and boyses When you can make the grandest noises. Screech, scream, holler, and yell – Buzz a buzzer, clang a bell, Sneeze – hiccup – whistle – shout, Laugh until your lungs wear out, Toot a whistle, kick a can, Bang a spoon against a pan, Sing, yodel, bellow, hum, Blow a horn, beat a drum, Rattle a window, slam a door, Scrape a rake across the floor . . .. Onomatopoeia Several other words not highlighted could also be considered as onomatopoeia. Can you find any?

Imagery Imagery is the use of words to create pictures, or images, in your mind. Appeals to the five senses: smell, sight, hearing, taste and touch. Details about smells, sounds, colors, and taste create strong images. To create vivid images writers use figures of speech. Five Senses

Symbolism A symbol is something that stands for itself, but also something larger than itself. It may be a person, an animal, an inanimate object, or an action . A writer often uses a concrete object to express an abstract idea, a quality, or a belief. A symbol may appeal to a reader's emotions and can provide a way to express an idea, communicate a message, or clarify meaning

Mother to Son by Langston Hughes Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor -- Bare. But all the time I'se been a-climbin' on, And reachin' landin's, And turnin' corners, And sometimes goin' in the dark Where there ain't been no light. So boy, don't you turn back. Don't you set down on the steps 'Cause you finds it's kinder hard. Don't you fall now -- For I'se still goin', honey, I'se still climbin', And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

Personification Giving human characteristics to inanimate objects, ideas, or animals The sun stretched its lazy fingers over the valley.

Hyperbole An exaggeration for the sake of emphasis I may sweat to death. It’s been a hundred years since I’ve seen that movie.

Mood Mood is the atmosphere, or emotion, in the poem created by the poet. Can be happy, angry, silly, sad, excited, fearful or thoughtful. Poet uses words and images to create mood. Author’s purpose helps determine mood.

Mood - Barefoot Days Barefoot Days by Rachel Field In the morning, very early, That’s the time I love to go Barefoot where the fern grows curly And grass is cool between each toe, On a summer morning-O! On a summer morning! That is when the birds go by Up the sunny slopes of air, And each rose has a butterfly Or a golden bee to wear; And I am glad in every toe – Such a summer morning-O! Such a summer morning! The mood in this poem is happy. What clues in the poem can you use to determine the mood?

Mood - Mad Song Mad Song I shut my door To keep you out Won’t do no good To stand and shout Won’t listen to A thing you say Just time you took Yourself away I lock my door To keep me here Until I’m sure You disappear. By Myra Cohn Livingston The mood in this poem is angry. What clues in the poem can you use to determine the mood?

Mood - Poem Poem I loved my friend. He went away from me. There’s nothing more to say. The poem ends, Soft as it began – I loved my friend: By Langston Hughes The mood in this poem is sad. What clues in the poem can you use to determine the mood?

Diction Diction refers to the language of a poem, and how each word is chosen to convey a precise meaning. Poets are very deliberate in choosing each word for its particular effect, It's important to know the denotation and connotations of the words in a poem, not to mention their literal meaning, too.

Diction Example: T.S. Eliot, "Burnt Norton "Words strain, Crack and sometimes break, under the burden, Under the tension, slip, slide, perish, Decay with imprecision, will not stay in place, Will not stay still.” Notice the choice of harsh words like “burden” and “strain”.

Different Types of Poems Sonnet – 14 line poem Limerick – 5 line witty poem Haiku – 3 line poems with very specific syllables Narrative – a poem that tells a story Epic – a very long poem that celebrates the adventures of a hero Free Verse – Poems that do not follow any specific rules

The End…