1. Oral Interpretation of Poetry Basic Forensics

2. What is poetry?  Any material that is economical in language and written in meter.

3. Misconceptions About Poetry 1. You should be able to understand everything about the poem on the first reading. 2. The poem is written in a type of code, and it is your job as the reader to “crack” the code. 3. The poem can mean anything you want it to mean.

4. Approach it this way..  -- Think of studying poetry like learning how to rock climb. It will make you work hard, You will have to find handholds and footholds and you will climb only a bit at a time. Sometimes the climbs will be easy; some will be more difficult.  -- Poets leave trails to help you look for the way “up” a poem. You will have to work to find them!

5. Vocabulary  Denotation: the dictionary meaning of a word  Connotation: the implied or suggested meaning of a word  Meter: the rhythmical pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in verse.  Rhyme: the repetition of syllables, typically at the end of a verse line.

6. Poetic Device: Metaphor Definition: Comparison of two unlike things not using like or as Example: Time is a thief, life is a journey

7. Poetic Device: Onomatopoeia Definition: The use of words to imitate the sounds they describe Example: bang, pow, boom

8. Poetic Device: Symbol Definition: An object that stands for something beyond itself Example: heart=love, Dove=peace

9. Poetic Device: Personification Definition: Giving living qualities to an inanimate object Example: The ocean waved, the light beam danced

10. Poetic Device: Simile Definition: Comparison of two unlike things using like or as Example: the kid jumped like a kangaroo, the kid is as tall as a giraffe

11. Poetic Device: Hyperbole Definition: Exaggeration for emphasis Example: That took forever, I told you a million times

12. Poetic Device: Alliteration Definition: The repetition of consonant sounds Example: Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore.

13. Poetic Device: Oxymoron Definition: Words that appear to contradict each other Example: jumbo shrimp

14. How to Read a Poem

17. Poetry Interpretation

18. Selection

19. Close reading/biography

20. Marking

21. Introduction *** You will have an introduction for each poem, therefore you will be writing three introductions

22. Poetry Presentation Rubric ** You will be selecting 3 poems, therefore the presentation grade total will be out of 30 points