1. TSA Poem Skills (Secondary 3)

2. Rhyme

3. Rhyme refers to words which have the same vowel and consonant sound
e.g. Rain and pain
Sing and ring
Right and bite
Cry and sigh
Note that the last sound of a rhyme does not necessarily spell the same as another word.

4. Read the poem. How many pairs of rhyme are there? Hong Kong
We all love our city Hong Kong
So how about writing a song?
We can tell of her joys,
Her fun and her toys;
We can shout to the people
From the top of a steeple;
There’s nowhere quite like Hong Kong!
How many pairs of rhyme are there?

5. Which words should be used in the poem?
My Classmates
John is tall and jolly
He loves to play about;
His girlfriend is called (1)
They hold hands when they go (2) !
Molly
out
(1) Jenny, Amy, Molly, Grace
(2) shopping, out, home, along

6. Which words should be used in the poem?
Anna’s talking in the house
Everything she loves to share.
Seeing a cockroach or a (3) ,
She screams and stands up on a (4) !
mouse
chair
(3) rat, mouse, fly, beetle
(4) sofa, table, chair, bed

7. What words should be used in the poem?
helpful
Bob is kind and (3) ,
He does his work without wait;
Kate’s smart but forgetful
Her homework’s always (4) !
late

8. Listen to stanza 4 and answer the question.
In stanza 1, ‘jolly’ and ‘Molly’ are two rhyming words. Find one word that rhymes with ‘hair’ in stanza 4.
_______________
there

9. Alliteration

10. Alliteration refers to words which start with the same sound.
e.g. Ben buys a book
a jar of jam
sweet smell of success
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
Alliteration can make an expression more catchy.

11. Read the poem. How many examples of alliteration are there?
Merry Children
We’re all cheerful children
Singing songs every day.
Whenever we are free
Exciting games we love to play.
We’re all friendly children
Helping each other every day.
Whenever good or bad things happen
Warm words we love to say.
How many examples of alliteration are there?

12. Read the poem and answer the question.
Couch Potato
In the morning I see a fairy
Playing games with Peter Pan.
In the afternoon I see a cook
Frying sausages in a pan.
At night I see a Chinese bride
Smiling sweetly in her sedan.

13. Smiling sweetly in her sedan.
Line 2: ‘Playing games with Peter Pan.’ is an example of alliteration.
Find another example in the poem.
____________________________________
Smiling sweetly in her sedan.

14. Onomatopoeia

15. Onomatopoeia refers to words which imitate sounds.
e.g. meow (the sound of cats )
ring (the sound of telephone )
splash (the sound of water )
smash (the sound of breaking glass )
These words can be used as verbs and nouns to suggest sounds.
e.g. He rings Cherry to ask her to the party.
There are several splashes of paint.

16. Read the following words aloud.
crunch drip woof
bang quack murmur
slurp beep roar
whisper pop crackle
ding-dong munch hiss
What sounds do the other words refer to?
Which are the words about talking?
Which are the words about eating?
Which are the words about animals?

17. Read the poem and answer the question.
Storm
I stay at home during the storm
When the rain stops I go out to play.
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter
The rain sings happily all day.
Cars splash rainwater on the street
Making people wet in this way.
Thunder also wants to join the rain
It roars as if saying ‘Hurray!’

18. 1. Find two words in the poem which sound like the sounds of water.
_____________ and _____________
pitter-patter
splash
2. Find one word in the poem which sounds like the noise of thunder.
_____________
roars

19. Metaphor

20. A metaphor compares two things to show their similarities.
e.g. Newspaper is my spiritual food.
A rainbow is a bridge in the sky.
What are the similarities between the two things?
e.g. newspaper = food
(Both can feed a person.)
rainbow = bridge
(Both stretch across two places.)

21. Read the poem. How many examples of metaphors are there?
My mum
My mum is the sun
Giving me strength and energy.
My mum is a lighthouse
Guiding a boat in the sea.
My mum is a fire
As warm or fierce as she can be.
My mum’s words are medicine
Sometimes bitter, but good for me.
How many examples of metaphors are there?
What are the similarities between ‘my mum’ and these things?

22. Simile

23. A simile compares one thing to another to show their similarities by using ‘as’, ‘like’, etc.
e.g. Simon is as cunning as a fox.
Her tears drop like falling rain.
What are the similarities between the two things?
e.g. Simon = fox
(Both are cunning.)
her tears = rain
(Both are falling continuously.)

24. Read the poem. How many examples of similes are there? My mum
My mum is like the sun
Giving me strength and energy.
My mum is like a lighthouse
Guiding a boat in the sea.
My mum is as warm as gentle fire
But as fierce as it gets out of control.
My mum’s words are as bitter as medicine
But they are always good to me.
How many examples of similes are there?

25. Read the poem and answer the question.
Time
Time is a doctor
With a magic to heal.
The farther it passes by
The less painful people feel.
Time is money
With it you can gain a lot.
But it flies like an arrow
Ask it to stay? We cannot.

26. But it flies like an arrow
1. Line 1: ‘Time is a doctor’ is an example of metaphor. Find another example in the poem.
__________________________
2. Find an example of simile in the poem.
Time is money
But it flies like an arrow

27. Summary
When you are reading or listening to a poem, pay attention to the poetic devices:
Rhyme
Alliteration
Onomatopoeia
Metaphor
Simile

28. - The End -