Poetry: Tone & Form ENC 1102 Alling
All slides contain info. from Roberts & Zweig’s Literature: An Introduction to Reading & Writing “Tone: The creation of attitude in poetry” & “Form: The Shape of Poems”
Diction— denotation & connotation How does a poet create tone? Diction— denotation & connotation
Participants & situations How does a poet create tone? Participants & situations
How does a poet create tone? Seriousness or humor
Irony (making a point by emphasizing a discrepancy or opposite) How does a poet create tone? Irony (making a point by emphasizing a discrepancy or opposite)
How does a poet create tone? Metaphors & similes
Understatement, overstatement (hyperbole), & other figures of speech How does a poet create tone? Understatement, overstatement (hyperbole), & other figures of speech
Speaker—self-awareness, background, relationship to listeners/readers How does a poet create tone? Speaker—self-awareness, background, relationship to listeners/readers
Form—Length, repetition, stanza choices, etc. How does a poet create tone? Form—Length, repetition, stanza choices, etc.
Level of formality—graceful words, slang, rhymes, etc. How does a poet create tone? Level of formality—graceful words, slang, rhymes, etc.
By using all devices to create a Consistent intention How does a poet create tone? By using all devices to create a Consistent intention
If poet controls his/her tone: may gain reader’s agreement, at least for a time; may stimulate, enrich, & inspire readers
shape, structure, pattern, or lack thereof What is poetic form? shape, structure, pattern, or lack thereof
Closed-form open-form Two major forms of poetry Closed-form open-form
What is closed-form poetry? clearly-recognizable shape, structures, or patterns; uses traditional conventions & restrictions
Sonnet lyric ode elegy ballad hymnal haiku villanelle triolet Some types of closed-form poems Sonnet lyric ode elegy ballad hymnal haiku villanelle triolet
Free from restrictions of closed form, such as meter or rhyme What is open-form poetry? Free from restrictions of closed form, such as meter or rhyme
What is open-form poetry? embraces spoken rhythms; topic itself shapes # of lines, line lengths, physical appearance on page (e.g. varying line lengths w/ importance of ideas, creating pauses, relying on progression of images, etc.)
Some types of open-form poems Free verse (new, original ways to arrange words & lines) Visual poetry prose poems
You read & analyze Example poems Recognizing Tone & Form You read & analyze Example poems