Elements of Poetry

What is poetry? Putting words together in an interesting way to express a feeling, create a mental picture, tell a story or make a sound. Putting words together in an interesting way to express a feeling, create a mental picture, tell a story or make a sound. “Poetry entertains the ears and the eyes”“Poetry entertains the ears and the eyes”

Poetry Vocabulary We will cover… We will cover… -rhythm -rhyme -verse -stanza -figurative language -rhythm -rhyme -verse -stanza -figurative language

Stanza vs. Verse Stanza Like a paragraph in an essay Each stanza is usually separated by a blank space Common stanzas are 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 lines Verse Usually a line from a poem, sometimes the whole poem.

Stanza vs. Verse Where the Sidewalk EndsWhere the Sidewalk Ends There is a place where the sidewalk endsThere is a place where the sidewalk ends And before the street begins.And before the street begins. And there the grass grows soft and white,And there the grass grows soft and white, And there the sun burns crimson bright,And there the sun burns crimson bright, And there the moon-bird rests from his flightAnd there the moon-bird rests from his flight To cool in the peppermint wind.To cool in the peppermint wind. Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black And the dark street winds and bends. Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow, And watch were the chalk-white arrows go To the place where the sidewalk ends. Yes we’ll walk with a walk that is measured and slow, And we’ll go where the chalk-white arrows go, For the children, they mark, and the children, they know The place where the sidewalk ends.

Rhythm and Rhyme – related! Rhythm Regular, patterned repetition of sounds in a poem. The beat Makes the poem sound like music Rhyme Repetitions of end sounds Does not NEED to be in all poems My dog chewed up my homework. He slobbered on it, too. So now my homework’s ripped to shreds, And full of slimy goo. -Bruce Lansky

Figurative Language Examples of Figurative Language: -Alliteration -Onomatopoeia -Simile -Metaphor -Idiom Examples of Figurative Language: -Alliteration -Onomatopoeia -Simile -Metaphor -Idiom

ALLiteration ALLmost ALL the words in the poem begin with the same letter ALLmost ALL the words in the poem begin with the same letter Down the slippery slide they slid Sitting slightly sideways; Slipping swiftly see them skid On holidays and Fridays. -Michael Rosen

Onomatopoeia A sound-word related to an actionA sound-word related to an action Action: water dripping Sound-words: -drip -splash -drizzle -bloop Action: collision Sound-words -clash -boom -clatter -screech

Simile vs. Metaphor Simile Comparison using “like” or “as” “The boy was as brave as a lion” What other examples can you think of? Metaphor A comparison between two things “My brother was boiling mad” “The assignment was a breeze” What other examples can you think of?

Idiom A phrase whose words have a different meaning other than it’s original meaning. A phrase whose words have a different meaning other than it’s original meaning. “The assignment was a piece of cake!”“The assignment was a piece of cake!” Can you think of any more examples?Can you think of any more examples?

Different Types of Poetry We will cover: -Acrostic -Haiku -Shape Poem -Diamante We will cover: -Acrostic -Haiku -Shape Poem -Diamante

Acrostic Poems In Acrostic poems, the first letters of each line are aligned vertically to form a word. The word often is the subject of the poem. Elegantly and efficiently shaped Good to eat Great to find at Easter Smooth shelled

Haiku Poems Japanese form of poetry that reflects on nature and feelings Line one: 5 syllables Line two: 7 syllables Line three: 5 syllables Japanese form of poetry that reflects on nature and feelings Line one: 5 syllables Line two: 7 syllables Line three: 5 syllables

Haikus

Shape Poem A poem in which the arrangement of the words takes the form of something. A poem in which the arrangement of the words takes the form of something.

Diamante Think “Diamond” Think “Diamond” The words take the shape of a diamond The words take the shape of a diamond Line 1: Noun or subject (one word) Line 2: Two adjectives that describe line 1 Line 3: Three “-ing” words that describe line 1 Line 4: Four nouns (first two are connected with line 1, last two are connected with line 7) Line 5: Three “-ing” words that describe line 7 Line 6: Two adjectives that describe line 7 Line 7: Noun synonym that describes the subject

Diamante Example Pencil Sharp, skinny Writing, answering, erasing Wood, lead, ink, plastic Drawing, smudging, leaking Durable, comfortable Pen