1. Sound Devices Unit 5: Poetry Lecture Notes Outline
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Literary Analysis
Unit 5: Poetry
Imagery and Figurative Language
Level III
NOTE: This presentation contains slides with fields for recording student responses. Any text you insert will remain in the fields until you delete it manually.

2. Poetry lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world, and makes familiar objects be as if they were not familiar.
—Percy Bysshe Shelley
Lecture Notes Outline
Poetry lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world, and makes familiar objects be as if they were not familiar. —Percy Bysshe Shelley
Navigation Note
In all Literary Analysis presentations in Units 5 and 6, slides 3–15 introduce the genre of poetry. If you choose to skip the genre introduction, use the “<skip intro>” button below the quotation. This button will advance the presentation to the introduction of the specific literary element on slide 16.
<skip intro>

3. What is poetry?
The language of poetry is musical and the word choices are exact.
Poetry is often best experienced when read aloud.
Lecture Notes Outline
What is poetry? The language of poetry is musical and the word choices are exact. Poetry is often best experienced when read aloud.

4. How are poetry and prose similar?
Both use imagery and figurative language to paint a picture for readers.
Both use precise language to communicate a tone, viewpoint, or perception of an object or experience.
Lecture Notes Outline
How are poetry and prose similar? Both use imagery and figurative language to paint a picture for readers. Both use precise language to communicate a tone, viewpoint, or perception of an object or experience.
Extension Options
Ask students to consider the challenges of writing poetry versus writing prose. To that end, have them consider this quotation by W. Somerset Maugham: “The crown of literature is poetry. It is its end and aim. It is the sublimest activity of the human mind. It is the achievement of beauty and delicacy. The writer of prose can only step aside when the poet passes.”

5. How are poetry and prose different?
Poetry reduces meaning into fewer words.
Poetry often uses meter, rhyme, lines, and stanzas.
Poetry allows more freedom in the ordering of words and use of punctuation.
Lecture Notes Outline
How are poetry and prose different? Poetry reduces meaning into fewer words. Poetry often uses meter, rhyme, lines, and stanzas. Poetry allows more freedom in the ordering of words and use of punctuation.

6. Who are your favorite poets?
Maya Angelou
Lewis Carroll
Langston Hughes
Emily Dickinson
Robert Frost
Walt Whitman
Shel Silverstein
Naomi Shihab Nye
Lecture Notes Outline
Who are your favorite poets? Maya Angelou, Lewis Carroll, Langston Hughes, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, Shel Silverstein, Naomi Shihab Nye
Extension Options
While most students can name their favorite poets, tell students that the United States names a favorite poet as well. Each year, the Library of Congress appoints a Poet Laureate to serve as an ambassador “to raise the national consciousness to a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry.” The appointed individual spearheads readings of his or her own poetry as well as the poetry of other poets. The Poet Laureate also establishes a poetry project to make poetry more accessible to others. One project that has been particularly successful is Robert Pinsky’s Favorite Poem Project, where he invited Americans from all walks of life to submit their favorite poems and the meanings of those poems to their lives. Pinsky then compiled two hundred of those poems in the anthology Americans’ Favorite Poems: The Favorite Poem Project Anthology. You may want to check out this anthology in your local or school library. Another successful poetry project that high school students found particularly appealing was Poet Laureate Billy Collins’s Poetry 180, a project where students can listen to or read a poem each day during the school year. To find out more about the work of U.S. Poet Laureates, go to the Library of Congress website at

7. What are your favorite types of poems?
Lyric poems
Narrative poems
Epics
Sonnets
Haiku
Concrete poems
Blank verse
Free verse
Lecture Notes Outline
What are your favorite types of poems? Different poetic forms include lyric poems, narrative poems, epics, sonnets, haiku, concrete poems, and free verse.
Extension Options
Discuss with students their experiences with poetry, their favorite types of poetry and why they like them, and the hallmarks of memorable poetry.

8. Lyric Poetry The two main kinds of poetry are lyric and narrative.
A lyric poem expresses the emotions of the poem’s speaker.
The speaker is the poem’s narrator.
Lyric poetry often focuses on a single moment, image, or idea.
Lecture Notes Outline
The two main kinds of poetry are lyric and narrative. A lyric poem expresses the emotions of the poem’s speaker. The speaker is the poem’s narrator. Lyric poetry often focuses on a single moment, image, or idea.

9. Narrative Poetry A narrative poem tells a story.
Narrative poems include many of the same literary elements as fiction.
Long narrative poems that describe the deeds of heroes, gods, or goddesses are called epics.
Many epic poems offer insights into the culture from which they originate.
Lecture Notes Outline
A narrative poem tells a story. Narrative poems include many of the same literary elements as fiction. Long narrative poems that describe the deeds of heroes, gods, or goddesses are called epics. Many epic poems offer insights into the culture from which they originate.

10. Other Poetic Forms
A sonnet is a fourteen-line poem that explores the theme of romantic love.
Sonnets use rhyme and a regular rhythm.
A haiku is a short, three-line poem that describes a single image or scene, usually from nature.
The first and third lines of a haiku have five syllables, while the second line has seven.
Lecture Notes Outline
A sonnet is a fourteen-line poem that explores the theme of romantic love. Sonnets use rhyme and a regular rhythm. A haiku is a short, three-line poem that describes a single image or scene, usually from nature. The first and third lines of a haiku have five syllables, while the second line has seven.

11. Other Poetic Forms
A concrete poem is a poem that is shaped like the object it describes.
A blank verse poem does not rhyme, but each line has five stressed syllables, or beats.
A free verse poem does not use consistent rhythm or rhyme.
Free verse poems can take any shape and address any subject.
Lecture Notes Outline
A concrete poem is a poem that is shaped like the object it describes. A blank verse poem does not rhyme, but each line has five stressed syllables, or beats. A free verse poem does not use consistent rhythm or rhyme. Free verse poems can take any shape and address any subject.

12. Elements of Poetry
Two major elements of poetry that can be seen in most poems are the line and the stanza.
A line of poetry is a single row of words.
A stanza is made up of lines of poetry.
Each stanza is separated from the next by a space.
The number of lines in a stanza helps to determine the kind of stanza it is.
For example, a two-line stanza is a couplet, and a three-line stanza is a tercet.
Lecture Notes Outline
Two major elements of poetry that can be seen in most poems are the line and the stanza. A line of poetry is a single row of words. A stanza is made up of lines of poetry. Each stanza is separated from the next by a space. The number of lines in a stanza helps to determine the kind of stanza it is. For example, a two-line stanza is a couplet, and a three-line stanza is a tercet.

13. What are the purposes of poetry?
To entertain readers
To help readers learn about the human experience
To help readers gain insight into themselves and others
To help readers experience joy, inspiration, comfort, gratitude, redemption, or strength
To unite readers in a common understanding
Lecture Notes Outline
What are the purposes of poetry? Poetry can entertain readers; to help readers learn about the human experience; help readers gain insight into themselves and others; to help readers experience joy, inspiration, comfort, gratitude, redemption, or strength; and unite readers in a common understanding.
Extension Options
Share with students this excerpt from a speech presented at Amherst College by John F. Kennedy in honor of the poet Robert Frost: “When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of man’s concerns, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses, for art establishes the basic human truths which must serve as the touchstones of our judgment.” Ask students to react to Kennedy’s observations about the power of poetry.

14. The Art of Poetry Poetry is one of the world’s oldest art forms.
Poetry has survived the centuries because of its ability to communicate emotions and images.
Lecture Notes Outline
Poetry is one of the world’s oldest art forms. Poetry has survived the centuries because of its ability to communicate emotions and images.

15. The Rising Popularity of Poetry
is a powerful and expressive art form that is popular among young people
can be viewed on social networking sites, blogs, and other websites
can be heard in classrooms, transit stations, bookstores, coffeehouses, clubs, films, TV shows, and other public areas
Lecture Notes Outline
Poetry is a powerful and expressive art form that is popular among young people; can be viewed on social networking sites, blogs, and other websites; and can be heard in classrooms, transit stations, bookstores, coffeehouses, clubs, films, TV shows, and other public areas.
Extension Options
• Tell students that several factors have contributed to the rise in popularity of poetry among teenagers, including poetry slam competitions (also known as “spitting”); online poetry sites, such as Garrison Keillor’s The Writer’s Almanac; the popularity of hip-hop music; and poetry performance competitions. One of the most popular poetry performance competitions for teenagers is Poetry Out Loud. This national recitation contest gives high school students the opportunity to share their favorite poems in a memorized, theatrical performance, earning cash awards at both the state and national levels. To learn more about the project, go to their website at
• Share with students that the Academy of American Poets, one of the largest poetry websites on the Internet, now provides a mobile poetry archive—called “Woo or Woe on the Go”— for Internet-capable phones. Users can now browse more than 2,500 poems while out and about by accessing

16. Meaning in Poetry
Poems frequently challenge readers to imagine something in a unique or unexpected way.
Poets use the following elements to help readers understand the meaning in their works:
figurative language
sound devices
imagery
speaker
symbolism
Lecture Notes Outline
Poems frequently challenge readers to imagine something in a unique or unexpected way. Poets use the following elements to help readers understand the meaning in their works: figurative language, sound devices, imagery, speaker, and symbolism.

17. Speaker The speaker of a poem is the voice that narrates the poem.
In other words, the speaker is the voice assumed by the writer.
The speaker and the writer of the poem are not necessarily the same person.
Lecture Notes Outline
The speaker of a poem is the voice that narrates the poem. In other words, the speaker is the voice assumed by the writer. The speaker and the writer of the poem are not necessarily the same person.

18. Speaker
To identify the speaker of a poem, ask yourself the following questions:
Who is speaking?
How do I know?
How would I describe the speaker?
To whom is he or she speaking?
What is the speaker’s perspective in the poem?
What bias, or prejudice, might the speaker have?
What attitude does the speaker express?
Lecture Notes Outline
To identify the speaker of a poem, ask yourself the following questions:
• Who is speaking?
• How do I know?
• How would I describe the speaker?
• To whom is he or she speaking?
• What is the speaker’s perspective in the poem?
• What bias, or prejudice, might the speaker have?
• What attitude does the speaker express?

19. Speaker and Theme
Most of the time, the reader has to figure out the theme, or central idea, of a poem.
However, sometimes a poem’s speaker will explicitly state its theme, like in the poem “Ode to My Socks.”
The moral
of my ode is this:
beauty is twice
beauty
and what is good is doubly
good
when it is a matter of two socks
made of wool
in winter.
—from “Ode to My Socks,”
by Pablo Neruda
Lecture Notes Outline
Most of the time, the reader has to figure out the theme, or central idea, of a poem. However, sometimes a poem’s speaker will explicitly state its theme, like in the poem “Ode to My Socks.”
The moral
of my ode is this:
beauty is twice
beauty
and what is good is doubly
good
when it is a matter of two socks
made of wool
in winter.
—from “Ode to My Socks,” by Pablo Neruda
“Ode to My Socks” can be found on page 561 of the textbook.

20. What do you think makes a poem’s speaker distinctive and memorable?
How can a poem’s speaker affect the way readers understand the poem’s content?
Lecture Notes Outline
What do you think makes a poem’s speaker distinctive and memorable? How can a poem’s speaker affect the way readers understand the poem’s content?
Navigation Note
An interactive text field has been provided to record student responses. Please note that any text you insert will remain in the text field unless manually deleted.

21. Symbolism
A symbol is something that stands for, or represents, both itself and something else.
In this excerpt from “Southern Mansion,” the chains represent both themselves and the institution of slavery.
Lecture Notes Outline
A symbol is something that stands for, or represents, both itself and something else. In this excerpt from “Southern Mansion,” the chains represent both themselves and the institution of slavery.
There is a sound of music echoing
Through the open door
And in the field there is
Another sound tinkling in the cotton
Chains of bondmen dragging on the ground.
—from “Southern Mansion,” by Arna Bontemps
“Southern Mansion” can be found on page 549 of the textbook.
Extension Options
Discuss with students the importance of symbolism and branding in the advertising industry. Have students brainstorm different branding symbols that have universal recognition and that represent organizations (such as the pink ribbon for the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer awareness program) or products (such as the apple logo for Mac computers).
There is a sound of music echoing
Through the open door
And in the field there is
Another sound tinkling in the cotton
Chains of bondmen dragging on the ground.
—from “Southern Mansion,”
by Arna Bontemps

22. Types of Symbols
Writers use two types of symbols: traditional and unique.
A traditional symbol has widely recognized associations.
For example, red roses symbolize love.
A unique symbol is created especially for a particular piece of literature.
What might the toads in the poem “Birdfoot’s Grampa” (on the next slide) symbolize?
Lecture Notes Outline
Writers use two types of symbols: traditional and unique. A traditional symbol has widely recognized associations. For example, red roses symbolize love. A unique symbol is created especially for a particular piece of literature. What might the toads in the poem “Birdfoot’s Grampa” (on the next slide) symbolize?

23. Types of Symbols The old man But, leathery hands full
must have stopped our car of wet brown life,
two dozen times to climb out knee deep in the summer
and gather into his hands roadside grass,
the small toads blinded he just smiled and said
by our lights and leaping, they have places to go to
live drops of rain. too.
—“Birdfoot’s Grampa,”
The rain was falling, by Joseph Bruchac
a mist about his white hair
and I kept saying
you can’t save them all,
accept it, go back in
we’ve got places to go.
Lecture Notes Outline
The old man
must have stopped our car
two dozen times to climb out
and gather into his hands
the small toads blinded
by our lights and leaping,
live drops of rain.
The rain was falling,
a mist about his white hair
and I kept saying
you can’t save them all,
accept it, go back in
we’ve got places to go.
But, leathery hands full
of wet brown life,
knee deep in the summer
roadside grass,
he just smiled and said
they have places to go to
too.
—“Birdfoot’s Grampa,” by Joseph Bruchac
The toads in the poem might symbolize the environment or the natural world as a whole.

24. Symbolism and Theme
It is not always clear how an author wants you to interpret his or her use of a symbol.
As you read a poem, try to identify its theme.
Consider how the poet’s use of the following elements might relate to or develop this theme:
description
detail
figures of speech
symbols
Lecture Notes Outline
It is not always clear how an author wants you to interpret his or her use of a symbol.
As you read a poem, try to identify its theme.
Consider how the poet’s use of the following elements might relate to or develop this theme: description, detail, figures of speech, and symbols.

25. Symbolism and Theme
What symbols can you find in the excerpt from “Southern Mansion” below? What is the poem’s theme?
The years go back with an iron clank,
A hand is on the gate,
A dry leaf trembles on the wall.
Ghosts are walking.
They have broken roses down
And poplars stand there still as death.
—from “Southern Mansion,”
by Arna Bontemps
Lecture Notes Outline
What symbols can you find in the excerpt from “Southern Mansion” below? What is the poem’s theme?
The years go back with an iron clank,
A hand is on the gate,
A dry leaf trembles on the wall.
Ghosts are walking.
They have broken roses down
And poplars stand there still as death.
—from “Southern Mansion,” by Arna Bontemps
“Southern Mansion” can be found on page 549 of the textbook.

26. SUMMARY: Meaning in Poetry
To understand meaning in poetry,
pay close attention to the figurative language, sound devices, and imagery in a poem
determine who the poem’s speaker is and examine his or her perspective
try to figure out the poem’s theme
think about how the poet’s use of description, detail, figures of speech, and symbols might relate to or develop this theme
Lecture Notes Outline
To understand meaning in poetry,
pay close attention to the figurative language, sound devices, and imagery in a poem
determine who the poem’s speaker is and examine his or her perspective
try to figure out the poem’s theme
think about how the poet’s use of description, detail, figures of speech, and symbols might relate to or develop this theme

27. Sound Devices
Sound is one of elements that distinguishes poetry from prose.
Poetry is often musical, consisting of rhythms, rhymes, and other sound devices.
Sound devices are elements that writers use to appeal to the ears of listeners or readers.
Lecture Notes Outline
Sound is one of elements that distinguishes poetry from prose. Poetry is often musical, consisting of rhythms, rhymes, and other sound devices. Sound devices are elements that writers use to appeal to the ears of listeners or readers.

28. Rhyme
One common sound technique that readers immediately associate with poetry is rhyme.
Rhyme is the repetition of sounds at the ends of words.
End rhyme is when the rhyming words in a poem appear at the ends of the lines.
When a poem has a consistent pattern of end rhymes, it is said to have a rhyme scheme.
Lecture Notes Outline
One common sound technique that readers immediately associate with poetry is rhyme. Rhyme is the repetition of sounds at the ends of words. End rhyme is when the rhyming words in a poem appear at the ends of the lines. When a poem has a consistent pattern of end rhymes, it is said to have a rhyme scheme.

29. Rhyme Scheme
You can identify the rhyme scheme of a poem by assigning a new letter to each rhyme.
For example:
The Naming of cats is a difficult matter, a
It isn’t just one of your holiday games; b
You may think at first I’m as mad as a hatter a
When I tell you a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES. b
—from “The Naming of Cats,”
by T. S. Eliot
Lecture Notes Outline
You can identify the rhyme scheme of a poem by assigning a new letter to each rhyme.
For example:
The Naming of cats is a difficult matter, a
It isn’t just one of your holiday games; b
You may think at first I’m as mad as a hatter a
When I tell you a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES. b
—from “The Naming of Cats,” by T. S. Eliot

30. Rhyme Other types of rhyme that poets use include
internal rhyme, where rhyming words appear within the lines,
and
slant rhyme, or half rhyme, where rhyming sounds are similar but not identical.
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscutable singular Name.
—from “The Naming of Cats,”
by T. S. Eliot
Lecture Notes Outline
Other types of rhyme that poets use include internal rhyme, where rhyming words appear within the lines, and slant rhyme, or half rhyme, where rhyming are similar but not identical.
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscutable singular Name.
—from “The Naming of Cats,” by T. S. Eliot

31. Rhythm
The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry is its rhythm.
Stressed syllables are referred to as beats.
A regular and predictable pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables is called meter.
Lecture Notes Outline
The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry is its rhythm. Stressed syllables are referred to as beats. A regular and predictable pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables is called meter.

32. Rhythm Can you hear the rhythm in this excerpt?
Scanning can help you hear the rhythm.
Scanning is the process of marking / over stressed syllables and ˘ over unstressed syllables.
The pattern in this excerpt is regular— these lines are metered.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
—from “The New Colossus,”
by Emma Lazarus
˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ /
Lecture Notes Outline
Can you hear the rhythm in this excerpt?
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
—from “The New Colossus,” by Emma Lazarus
Scanning can help you hear the rhythm. Scanning is the process of marking / over stressed syllables and ˘ over unstressed syllables. The pattern in this excerpt is regular—these lines are metered.

33. Rhythm Every meter is made up of feet.
A foot is a group of two or more stressed or unstressed syllables.
An iamb is a type of foot that contains a single unstressed syllable followed by a single stressed syllable.
Lecture Notes Outline
Every meter is made up of feet. A foot is a group of two or more stressed or unstressed syllables. An iamb is a type of foot that contains a single unstressed syllable followed by a single stressed syllable. The meter of the excerpt on the previous slide is made up of iambic feet.

34. Other Sound Devices
Aside from rhyme, poets often use the sounds of letters in other parts of words to achieve a musical effect.
These sound techniques include
alliteration
consonance
assonance
Lecture Notes Outline
Aside from rhyme, poets often use the sounds of letters in other parts of words to achieve a musical effect. These sound techniques include alliteration, consonance, and assonance.

35. Alliteration
Alliteration occurs when a consonant sound is repeated at the beginnings of words that are found near each other.
What consonant sounds are repeated in the following excerpt?
Lecture Notes Outline
Alliteration occurs when a consonant sound is repeated at the beginnings of words that are found near each other. What consonant sounds are repeated in the following excerpt?
Words shy and dappled, deep-eyed deer in herds,
Come to my hand, and playful if I wish,
Or purring softly at a silver dish,
Blue Persian kittens, fed on cream and curds.
—from “Pretty Words,” by Elinor Wylie
The d sound is repeated (dappled, deep-eyed, deer, dish), as well as the s sound (shy, softly, silver) and the c sound (come, cream, curds).
Words shy and dappled, deep-eyed deer in herds,
Come to my hand, and playful if I wish,
Or purring softly at a silver dish,
Blue Persian kittens, fed on cream and curds.
—from “Pretty Words,”
by Elinor Wylie

36. Consonance
Consonance occurs when a consonant sound is repeated at the ends or the middles of words.
What consonant sounds are repeated in the following excerpt?
But I love to hear it sung;
how the waterlilies fill with rain until
they overturn, spilling water into water,
then rock back, and fill with more.
—from “I Ask My Mother to Sing”
by Li-Young Lee
Lecture Notes Outline
Consonance occurs when a consonant sound is repeated at the ends or the middles of words. What consonant sounds are repeated in the following excerpt?
But I love to hear it sung;
how the waterlilies fill with rain until
they overturn, spilling water into water,
then rock back, and fill with more.
—from “I Ask My Mother to Sing” by Li-Young Lee
The l sound is repeated in the words waterlilies, fill, until, and spilling.

37. Assonance Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds.
What vowel sounds are repeated in the following excerpt?
If my father were alive, he would play
his accordion and sway like a boat.
—from “I Ask My Mother to Sing,”
by Li-Young Lee
Lecture Notes Outline
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds. What vowel sounds are repeated in the following excerpt?
If my father were alive, he would play
his accordion and sway like a boat.
—from “I Ask My Mother to Sing,” by Li-Young Lee
The a sound is repeated in the words alive, play, accordion, and sway.

38. HONK! buzz growl hiss CHIRP squeak Onomatopoeia
Another common sound device used in poetry is onomatopoeia.
Onomatopoeia is the use of words or phrases that sound like the things to which they refer.
HONK!
hiss
Lecture Notes Outline
Another common sound device used in poetry is onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia is the use of words or phrases that sound like the things to which they refer.
Extension Options
Ask students to consider why onomatopoeia is a frequently used literary device in children’s books.
CHIRP
squeak
growl
buzz

39. SUMMARY: Sound Devices
To analyze the sound techniques that poets use, consider the following strategies:
Read a poem aloud, or listen as someone else reads aloud.
Hearing a poem captures the musicality of the poet’s words.
Take notes or use a graphic organizer to record the literary elements of a poem.
Lecture Notes Outline
To analyze the sight and sound techniques that poets use, consider the following strategies :
• Read a poem aloud, or listen as someone else reads aloud. Hearing a poem captures the musicality of the poet’s words.
• Take notes or use a graphic organizer to record the literary elements of a poem.

40. Imagery
An image is language that creates a concrete representation of an object or experience.
It is the vivid mental picture created in the reader’s mind.
The term imagery refers to all of the images in a literary work.
Lecture Notes Outline
An image is language that creates a concrete representation of an object or experience. It is the vivid mental picture created in the reader’s mind. The term imagery refers to all of the images in a literary work.

41. Imagery
What picture does the imagery in the excerpt below create in your mind?
The white mares of the moon rush along the sky
Beating their golden hooves upon the glass Heavens
The white mares of the moon are all standing on their hind legs
Pawing at the green porcelain doors of the remote Heavens.
—from “Night Clouds,”
by Amy Lowell
Lecture Notes Outline
What picture does the imagery in the excerpt below create in your mind?
The white mares of the moon rush along the sky
Beating their golden hooves upon the glass Heavens
The white mares of the moon are all standing on their hind legs
Pawing at the green porcelain doors of the remote Heavens.
—from “Night Clouds,” by Amy Lowell
“Night Clouds” can be found on page 479 of the textbook.

42. Figurative Language
Figurative language is anything written or spoken that is not mean to be taken literally.
This type of language is commonly used in poetry.
Figurative language often requires readers to see or experience something in a new way.
Lecture Notes Outline
Figurative language is anything written or spoken that is not mean to be taken literally. This type of language is commonly used in poetry. Figurative language often requires readers to see or experience something in a new way.
Extension Options
Tell students that figurative language and literal language are opposites. Whereas figurative language is writing that is meant to be understood imaginatively, literal language is writing that is meant to be understood word for word, or at face value. Students will easily grasp the difference between figurative language and literal language by discussing a classic book character from their elementary school years: Amelia Bedelia. What makes this series of books so memorable is the silly humor of the adventures of the main character, Amelia Bedelia—a young woman who lives in the literal language world and has no understanding of figurative language. Bring in several of these books to share with your students.

43. Purpose of Imagery and Figurative Language
A poet uses imagery and figurative language to
paint a picture in readers’ minds
set an emotional tone for a poem
reinforce the theme or central message of a poem
create connections with readers’ own experiences and observations
Lecture Notes Outline
A poet uses imagery and figurative language to
• paint a picture in readers’ minds
• set an emotional tone for a poem
• reinforce the theme or central message of a poem
• create connections with readers’ own experiences and observations

44. Types of Figurative Language
Poets frequently use the following four types of figurative language:
metaphor
simile
personification
hyperbole
Lecture Notes Outline
Poets frequently use the following four types of figurative language:
• metaphor
• simile
• personification
• hyperbole

45. Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken or written about as if it were another.
Metaphors invite readers to make a comparison between two things.
A metaphor works because the things being compared have one or more qualities in common.
Lecture Notes Outline
A metaphor is a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken or written about as if it were another. Metaphors invite readers to make a comparison between two things. A metaphor works because the things being compared have one or more qualities in common.

46. Metaphor
Look at the following excerpt from the poem “Dreams.” What is being compared?
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow
—from “Dreams,”
by Langston Hughes
Lecture Notes Outline
Look at the following excerpt from the poem “Dreams.” What is being compared?
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow
—from “Dreams,” by Langston Hughes
“Dreams” can be found on page 483 of the textbook.
Life without dreams is being compares to a barren field that is frozen with snow.

47. Simile
A simile is a comparison of two seemingly unlike things, using the word like or as.
What two things are being compared in the following excerpt from “Pretty Words”?
Poets make pets of pretty, docile words:
I love smooth words, like gold-enameled fish
Which circle slowly with a silken swish,
—from “Pretty Words,”
by Elinor Wylie
Lecture Notes Outline
A simile is a comparison of two seemingly unlike things, using the word like or as. What two things are being compared in the following excerpt from “Pretty Words”?
Poets make pets of pretty, docile words:
I love smooth words, like gold-enameled fish
Which circle slowly with a silken swish,
—from “Pretty Words,” by Elinor Wylie
“Pretty Words” can be found on page 495 of the textbook.
In this excerpt from the poem, words are compared to gold-enameled fish.

48. Personification
Personification is a figure of speech in which something that is not human is described as if it were.
What is being personified in this excerpt from “Pretty Words”?
Lecture Notes Outline
Personification is a figure of speech in which something that is not human is described as if it were. What is being personified in this excerpt from “Pretty Words”?
I love bright words, words up and singing early;
Words that are luminous in the dark and sing;
—from “Pretty Words,” by Elinor Wylie
“Pretty Words” can be found on page 495 of the textbook.
Words are being personified in this excerpt from the poem.
I love bright words, words up and singing early;
Words that are luminous in the dark and sing;
—from “Pretty Words,”
by Elinor Wylie

49. Hyperbole Another type of figurative language is hyperbole.
Hyperbole is an exaggeration used for effect or to make a point.
Many poets use hyperbole to strengthen the imagery in their poems.
Lecture Notes Outline
Another type of figurative language is hyperbole. Hyperbole is an exaggeration used for effect or to make a point. Many poets use hyperbole to strengthen the imagery in their poems.
Extension Options
Although hyperbole is used in poetry, tell students that this literary technique is most frequently seen in folk literature and, in particular, in the telling of tall tales.

50. Hyperbole
In the poem “Legacies,” a grandmother wants to teach her granddaughter how to make rolls.
Where does the poet use hyperbole in this excerpt?
she said
“i don’t want to learn how to make no rolls”
with her lip poked out
and the old woman wiped her hands on
her apron saying “lord
these children”
and neither of them ever
said what they meant
and I guess nobody ever does
—from “Legacies,”
by Nikki Giovanni
Lecture Notes Outline
In the poem “Legacies,” a grandmother wants to teach her granddaughter how to make rolls.
Where does the poet use hyperbole in this excerpt?
she said
“i don’t want to learn how to make no rolls”
with her lip poked out
and the old woman wiped her hands on
her apron saying “lord
these children”
and neither of them ever
said what they meant
and I guess nobody ever does
—from “Legacies,” by Nikki Giovanni
“Legacies” can be found on page 518 of the textbook.
In this excerpt from the poem, the poet uses hyperbole when she writes, “and I guess nobody ever does.” People do sometimes say what they mean, but saying that no one ever does drives home the point that people often avoid expressing their true feelings.

51. Figurative Language Chart
Use a Figurative Language Chart to better understand the use of figurative language in poetry.
See the next slide for an example of a partially completed chart for the poem “The New Colossus.”
Lecture Notes Outline
Use a Figurative Language Chart to better understand the use of figurative language in poetry. See the next slide for an example of a partially completed chart for the poem “The New Colossus.”

52. SUMMARY: Figurative Language
To understand imagery and figurative language in poetry, ask yourself the following questions:
What is the main thing or idea being described?
What images are used to describe it?
What feelings or ideas do I associate with those images?
How might the concepts in the poem relate to a familiar aspect of life?
Lecture Notes Outline
To understand imagery and figurative language in poetry, ask yourself the following questions:
• What is the main thing or idea being described?
• What images are used to describe it?
• What feelings or ideas do I associate with those images?
• How might the concepts in the poem relate to a familiar aspect of life?