Tone and Meaning Day 11
What poetic devices do poets use? How do we make Meaning from Poetry? Today Goals Focus questions Examine how tone and meaning are conveyed though the poet’s word choice Understand how critical word choice is to poets What poetic devices do poets use? How do we make Meaning from Poetry?
Brainstorm list as many words as you can that convey a strong meaning, aka, Tone words.
More on tone We have all heard a variety of tones when people speak. An angry tone, a frightened tone, a happy tone is simple to distinguish in speech (when someone is talking). Voices and tone in poetry, however, are relayed in print and since we do not witness the poet or speaker using his/her voice, tone and body language to communicate, we must infer by reading the words. Tone is revealed most often in diction (speech, pronunciation), but also through images, cadence (tempo), rhythm, or other techniques such as font size, spacing, and capitalization.
“My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke As you listen to this poem being read aloud: Complete the template for Tone Hint: This poem can be interpreted in several different ways The interpretation should be based on ooking at diction, considering the rhythm and other techniques for conveying tone.
My Papa's Waltz By Theodore Roethke The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother's countenance Could not unfrown itself. The hand that held my wrist Was battered on one knuckle; At every step you missed My right ear scraped a buckle. You beat time on my head With a palm caked hard by dirt, Then waltzed me off to bed Still clinging to your shirt.
2nd reading Beat time on my head Romped Scraped waltzed Word or phrase from poem What tone do words suggest Connotation: + − = Beat time on my head Romped Scraped waltzed
Group Work In your groups, you must take on a role: Transcriber: write down annotations from the group’s observation Tone Relayer: Complete Tone Chart for the group Discussion leader: Leads the group through the activity Timerkeeper: Interacting with group w/ poem, but also watching time Presenters/speakers: You will read your poem aloud, and attempt to convey the tone in your voice, then explain your information Everyone complete all information on worksheet and turn in when finished
2nd reading Word or phrase from poem What tone do words suggest Connotation: + − =