Poetry Terms
Vocabulary Terms Have your pencils and packet ready! Terms in PPT not in alphabetical order Not going over EVERY term –Will need to complete independently Will need to recognize and locate uses of terms in poetry/lyrics
Alliteration Repetition of same or similar consonant sounds in words that are close together –Most often consists of sounds that begin words, it may also involve sounds that occur in words What is a consonant? –NOT a vowel Example: –Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. (First letter, p, is a consonant and is repeated many times)
Assonance Repetition of similar vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds in words that are close together –“Lake” and “fake” demonstrate Rhyme –“Lake” and “fate” demonstrate Assonance Example: –And so all the night-tide, I lie down by the side, Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride »Edgar Allan Poe, from “Annabel Lee”
Alliteration vs. Assonance How can you remember the difference between alliteration and assonance? –Alliteration (rep. of consonants) ends with a CONSONANT –Assonance (rep. of vowels) ends with a VOWEL
Allusion Reference to a statement, person, place, event, or thing that is known from literature, history, religion, myth, politics, sports, science, or art Direct or indirect reference “Five score years ago” “Four score and seven years ago” King's allusion effectively called up parallels in two historic moments. “Having the strength of Hercules”
Rhyme Scheme Indicate rhyme scheme by each new end and rhyme a new letter of the alphabet Example: Bid me to weep, and I will weep, While I have eyes to see; And having none, yet I will keep A heart to weep for thee. »Stanza from To Anthea, Who May Command Him Any Thing by Robert Herrick What is the rhyme scheme? ABABABAB ABAB
Meter & Foot Meter: Regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry –Stressed syllable (/) –Unstressed syllable (U) Meter is measured in units called feet Foot: Usually consists of one stressed and one or more unstressed syllables – Iamb: stressed followed by unstressed U / U / forget; deceive –More meters on pg. 1001
Iambic Pentameter & Blank Verse Iambic Pentameter: Line of poetry made up of five iambs –Five iambs –Ten syllables Blank Verse: Unrhymed iambic pentameter Example (Iambic Pentameter and Blank Verse: U / U / U / U / U / When I see birches bend to left and right U / U / U / U / U / Across the line of straighter darker trees U / U / U / U / U / I like to think some boy’s been swinging them »Robert Frost, from “Birches”
Inversion Reversal of normal word order in a sentence Remember Yoda? –“Named must your fear be before banish it you can.” –Correct word order: Must name your fear before you can banish it.
Hyperbole Figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion or for comic relief –Not pronounced “Hyper- bowl” –It’s “High-purr-bowl-ee” I told you a million times!
Connotation & Denotation Connotation: All the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests Example: Expensive restaurant advertises its delicious “cuisine” rather than its delicious “cooking” –Cuisine = elegance, sophistication, high quality –Cooking = decent, everyday food Denotation: literal meaning of the word –Cuisine and Cooking = Prepared Food
Connotation & Denotation (another way to look at it) Connotation: The meaning of a word/phrase based on how your culture defines it Example: I call be classmate my “brother” –Brother = friend/buddy/mate Denotation: The meaning of a word based on what the dictionary would say –Brother= male sibling in the same family
Tone Author’s attitude toward types of characters and situations Examples: cynical, playful, formal, informal, informal, earnestness, seriousness, bitterness, humorous, joyful, neutral, serious, amused, sad, angry
Mood Atmosphere of feeling created by a piece of art or writing –Creates a sense of expectation about what is to follow –Feeling in reading Example: –Create mood of mystery around character or setting –Romantic, gloomy, optimistic, imaginary
Symbolism Person, place or object which has a meaning in itself, but suggests other meanings as well Things, characters and actions can be symbols Meaning beyond the obvious Water = New Life Cross = Religion Black = Evil, Death
Personification Give human qualities to an animal, an object, or an idea Examples: –The whistling wind. –The trees were dancing in the wind. Smile Sun The smiling sun. The sun was smiling.
Imagery Language that appeals to the senses Descriptions of people or objects stated in terms of our senses Examples: –He was a tall man. –The cat is soft.
Simile Comparison between two unlike things, using words “like” or “as” Example: –Her love is like a red rose.
Metaphor Comparison between two unlike things Does NOT use “like” or “as” Example: Juliet IS the sun. =
Onomatopoeia Sounds are spelled out as words When words describing sounds sound like the sounds described Examples: splash, buzz, bark, wow, gush, kerplunk