Comedic Elements Applying to Poetry

What’s prose you ask? The ordinary form of spoken or written language, without metrical structure, as distinguished from poetry or verse. Similar to Prose The same elements that are used to create comedy and humor in prose are often used in poetry to achieve the same effect Parody Irony Hyperbole Litotes Figurative Language (simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration) Rhyme and rhythm (Shakespeare did this very well)

Let’s look at a poem “Introduction to Poetry” I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide or press an ear against its hive. I say drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out, or walk inside the poem's room and feel the walls for a light switch. I want them to waterski across the surface of a poem waving at the author's name on the shore. But all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it. They begin beating it with a hose to find out what it really means. Billy Collins “Introduction to Poetry” Look for elements from 1st slide Figurative language: “like a color slide” “its hive” No rhyme pattern – why? Fits with purpose of poem (why does a poem have to have a “real” meaning?) Extended metaphor? Hyperbole “beating it with a hose”

Limericks – Ogden Nash “The Centipede” I objurgate the centipede, A bug we do not really need. At sleepy-time he beats a path Straight to the bedroom or the bath. You always wallop where he’s not, Or, if he is, he makes a spot. “Further Reflections on Parsley” Parsley Is gharsley. “The Abominable Snowman” I’ve never seen an abominable snowman, I’m hoping not to see one, I’m also hoping, if I do, That it will be a wee one. Examples of overt humor - duh

Shakespeare? Funny? You bet your bard! Sonnet 130 My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips’ red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damask’d, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:    And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare    As any she belied with false compare. Have students identify “false comparisons” Ex. “eyes are nothing like the sun” in typical poetry would read “eyes as bright as the sun” Identify tone in lines 1-12 – is there anything in those lines that the mistress might find pleasing? Tone shift? Line 13 (signal – “and yet”) What is the tone of the last two lines? How important are truth and lies as subjects in the poem?

More Shakespeare… Sonnet 135 Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy Will, And Will to boot, and Will in over-plus; More than enough am I that vexed thee still, To thy sweet will making addition thus. Wilt thou, whose will is large and spacious, Not once vouchsafe to hide my will in thine? Shall will in others seem right gracious, And in my will no fair acceptance shine? The sea, all water, yet receives rain still, And in abundance addeth to his store; So thou, being rich in Will, add to thy Will One will of mine, to make thy large will more.    Let no unkind, no fair beseechers kill;    Think all but one, and me in that one Will. Highlights Use of the word “will” – multiple possible meanings (Shakespeare, other lovers, etc.) - Pun (author’s name) – Elizabethan colloquial term for the male sex organ Speaker is begging, pleading for the woman to accept him, either in love or in sex (can make a case for both options)

The Health Food Diner – Maya Angelou Describe the speaker’s attitude(s) toward the restaurant? Prove it. What aspects of this poem contribute to its humor? Handout with poem