1. Introduction to poetry
Poem – A verbal composition designed to convey experiences, ideas, or emotions using literary techniques such as metaphor, rhyme, and rhythm.

2. Expression Through Words
Some of the earliest poetry is believed to have been recited or sung. Poetry is EXPRESSIVE, just like the music you listen to today.

3. Simile – a comparison of two or more things using the words
like or as.
“You’re so cute. I wanna wear you like a suit. I think you look
Pretty good on me.” - Boom. Bap. Pow
“O my loves like a red, red rose, That's newly sprung in June; O My loves like the melody That's sweetly played in tune” -
Robert Burns
Simile

5. Imagery “The winter evening settles down
Vivid descriptive
language that
appeals to one or
more of the senses.
“The winter evening settles down
With smell of steaks in passageways.
Six o'clock.
The burnt-out ends of smoky days.
And now a gusty shower wraps
The grimy scraps.”
excerpt from “Preludes” by T. S. Eliot

7. Metaphor Metaphor – A comparison between two or more things that does
NOT use the words like or as.
“The stages of love are stepping stones to death.”
- “Earthward” by Robert Frost
“My heart’s a stereo. It beats for you
So listen close. Hear my thoughts in
Every note. “ Gym Class Heroes
Metaphor

9. Alliteration
Alliteration – repetition of the same consonant sounds at the
beginning of words.
“Deep into that darkness peering,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal
Ever dared to dream before.”
- “The Raven” by Poe
“Saturday morning, jumped out of bed and put on my best suit
Got in my car and raced like a jet, all the way to you
Knocked on your door with heart in my hand
To ask you a question” Magic

11. Assonance Assonance – Repetition of vowel sounds within words.
“Hear the mellow wedding bells, Golden bells!
What a world of happiness their harmony foretells.”
- “The Bells” by Poe
“And in the air the fireflies
Our only light in paradise
We'll show the world they were wrong
And teach them all to sing along.”
- “If Everyone Cared” by Nickelback

13. Consonance
Consonance –similarity in consonant sounds in words that otherwise do not rhyme. Occurs at the end or in the middle of words. NOT THE SAME AS ALLITERATION
“Behind Me – dips Eternity –
Before me – Immortality –
Myself – the Term between—
Death but the Drift of Eastern Gray,
Dissolving into Dawn away,
Before the West begin –”
Emily Dickinson

15. Hyperbole
Hyperbole – Figure of speech in which deliberate exaggeration is used for emphasis.
“I took a walk around the world to ease my troubled mind .”
– “Kryptonite” by 3 Doors Down
“Here once the embattled
farmers stood
and fired the shot
heard round the world.”
- “The Concord Hymn” by Emerson

17. Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia – Figure of speech in which words are used to imitate sounds.
“While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.”
- “The Raven” by Poe
“Click, Click, Boom” by Saliva

19. Personification Personification – Figure of speech in which nonhuman
things are given human attributes.
"Ah, William, we're weary of weather," said the sunflowers, shining with dew. "Our traveling habits have tired us. Can you give us a room with a view?“
- “Two Sunflowers” by William Blake
“The wall starts breathing.”
– All American Rejects

21. Symbol
Symbol – A person, object, image, or word that has meaning beyond itself.
“Looking back, on the memory of
the dance we shared ‘neath the stars above.”
- Garth Brooks

23. Homework Assignment
You must choose a song or poem which has AT LEAST 3 of these examples from our poetry terms.
Write the lyrics down on notebook paper or print from library. You will need this by FRI 10/6.

24. Incubus – Wish You Were Here (My Example)
I dig my toes into the sand Imagery The ocean looks like a thousand diamonds Simile Strewn across a blue blanket I lean against the wind Pretend that I am weightless And in this moment I am happy...happy I lay my head onto the sand The sky resembles a back lit canopy With holes punched in it I'm counting UFOs I signal them with my lighter And in this moment I am happy...happy The world's a roller coaster Metaphor And I am not strapped in Maybe I should hold with care But my hands are busy in the air saying: