1. Sound Devices Unit 5: Poetry Lecture Notes Outline
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Literary Analysis
Unit 5: Poetry
Sound Devices
Level I
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 3–13 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 14.
<skip intro>

3. What is poetry?
Poetry is a type of literature that uses imaginative and musical language to communicate experiences, thoughts, or emotions.
Lecture Notes Outline
What is poetry? Poetry is a type of literature that uses imaginative and musical language to communicate experiences, thoughts, or emotions.

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
Sonnets
Haiku
Concrete poems
Free verse
Lecture Notes Outline
What are your favorite types of poems? Different poetic forms include lyric poems, narrative poems, 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 and Narrative 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.
A narrative poem tells a story.
Narrative poems include many of the same literary elements as fiction.
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. A narrative poem tells a story. Narrative poems include many of the same literary elements as fiction.
“Ode to La Tortilla,” by Gary Soto (page 460 of the textbook), is an example of a narrative poem, while “Abuelito Who,” by Sandra Cisneros (page 465) is a lyric poem.

9. 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.
“Haiku,” by Matsuo Bashō (page 580 of the textbook), contains three examples of traditional haiku.

10. Other Poetic Forms
A concrete poem is a poem that is shaped like the object it describes.
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 free verse poem does not use consistent rhythm or rhyme. Free verse poems can take any shape and address any subject.
“The Sidewalk Racer, or On the Skateboard,” by Lillian Morrison (page 517 of the textbook), is an example of a concrete poem.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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

14. I never find words right away
I never find words right away. Poems for me always begin with images and rhythms, shapes, feelings, forms, dances in the back of my mind.
—Gary Snyder
How can a poem’s imagery and rhythm create an emotional connection with readers?
Lecture Notes Outline
I never find words right away. Poems for me always begin with images and rhythms, shapes, feelings, forms, dances in the back of my mind. —Gary Snyder
How can a poem’s imagery and rhythm create an emotional connection with readers?
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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. Rhyme Scheme
You can identify the rhyme scheme of a poem by assigning a new letter to each rhyme.
For example:
It was the schooner Hesperus a
That sailed the wintry sea; b
And the skipper had taken his little daughter, c
To bear him company b
—from “The Wreck of the Hesperus,”
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Lecture Notes Outline
You can identify the rhyme scheme of a poem by assigning a new letter to each rhyme.
For example:
It was the schooner Hesperus a
That sailed the wintry sea; b
And the skipper had taken his little daughter, c
To bear him company b
—from “The Wreck of the Hesperus,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

18. 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.
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.
Dash those hot dogs
Into buns and splash on
All that good stuff
—from “Good Hot Dogs,” by Sandra Cisneros
Stooping as low as the Otter’s Window
Touching the Roof and tinting the Barn
Kissing her Bonnet to the Meadow
—from “Blazing in Gold and quenching in Purple,” by Emily Dickinson
Stooping as low as the Otter’s Window
Touching the Roof and tinting the Barn
Kissing her Bonnet to the Meadow
—from “Blazing in Gold and quenching in Purple,”
by Emily Dickinson
Dash those hot dogs
Into buns and splash on
All that good stuff
—from “Good Hot Dogs,”
by Sandra Cisneros

19. 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.

20. 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.
It was the schooner Hesperus,
That sailed the wintry sea;
—from “The Wreck of the Hesperus,”
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ /
Lecture Notes Outline
Can you hear the rhythm in this excerpt?
It was the schooner Hesperus,
That sailed the wintry sea;
—from “The Wreck of the Hesperus,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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.
˘ / ˘ / ˘ /

21. 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.

22. Rhythm
The meter of this excerpt from “The Wreck of the Hesperus” is made up of iambic feet.
It was the schooner Hesperus,
That sailed the wintry sea;
—from “The Wreck of the Hesperus,”
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ /
˘ / ˘ / ˘ /

23. 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.

24. 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?
Love, leave me like the light,
The gently passing day;
We would not know, but for the night,
When it has slipped away.
—from “If You Should Go,” by Countee Cullen
The l sound is repeated in the first line of the stanza (love, leave, like, light), while the n sound is repeated in the third line (not, know, night).
Love, leave me like the light,
The gently passing day;
We would not know, but for the night,
When it has slipped away.
—from “If You Should Go,”
by Countee Cullen

25. sway; I speed to whirring
Consonance
Consonance occurs when a consonant sound is repeated at the ends or the middles of words.
The following excerpt contains both consonance and alliteration. What consonant sounds are repeated?
I swerve, I curve, I
sway; I speed to whirring
sound an inch above the
ground; …
—from “The Sidewalk Racer, or On the Skateboard”
by Lillian Morrison
Lecture Notes Outline
Consonance occurs when a consonant sound is repeated at the ends or the middles of words. The following excerpt contains both consonance and alliteration. What consonant sounds are repeated?
I swerve, I curve, I
sway; I speed to whirring
sound an inch above the
ground; …
—from “The Sidewalk Racer, or On the Skateboard” by Lillian Morrison
The r sound is repeated in the words swerve, curve, and whirring, creating consonance, and the s sound is repeated in swerve, sway, speed, and sound, creating alliteration. Consonance is also present in the repetition of the nd sound at the ends of sound and ground.

26. Assonance Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds.
What vowel sounds are repeated in the following excerpt?
But four young oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat—
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn’t any feet.
—from “The Walrus and the Carpenter,”
by Lewis Carroll
Lecture Notes Outline
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds. What vowel sounds are repeated in the following excerpt?
But four young oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat—
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn’t any feet.
—from “The Walrus and the Carpenter,” by Lewis Carroll
The o sound is repeated the first and fifth lines, and the e sound is repeated in the second and fourth lines.

27. 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

28. The table below displays a partial list of onomatopoeic words
The table below displays a partial list of onomatopoeic words. With your classmates, brainstorm other onomatopoeic words you could add to this list.
Onomatopoeic Words
hiss
buzz
chirp
growl
Lecture Notes Outline
The table below displays a partial list of onomatopoeic words. With your classmates, brainstorm other onomatopoeic words you could add to this list.
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.

29. 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.