WIXLIB

Understanding Poetry

n n n In poetry the soundand meaning of wordsare combined toexpress feelings,thoughts, and ideas.The poet chooseswords carefully.Poetry is usuallywritten in lines.2

Poetry ElementsWriters use many elements to create theirpoems. These elements include:Rhythmn Soundn Imageryn Formn 3

Rhythmn n n n n Rhythm is the flow of thebeat in a poem.Gives poetry a musicalfeel.Can be fast or slow,depending on mood andsubject of poem.You can measure rhythmin meter, by counting thebeats in each line.(See next two slides forexamples.)4

Rhythm ExampleThe Pickety Fence by David McCordThe pickety fenceThe pickety fenceGive it a lick it'sThe pickety fenceGive it a lick it'sA clickety fenceGive it a lick it's a lickety fenceGive it a lickGive it a lickGive it a lickWith a rickety stickpicketypicketypicketypick.The rhythm in this poem is fast –to match the speed of the stickstriking the fence.5

Rhythm ExampleWhere Are You Now?When the night begins to fallAnd the sky begins to glowYou look up and see the tallCity of lights begin to grow –In rows and little golden squaresThe lights come out. First here, then thereBehind the windowpanes as thoughA million billion bees had builtTheir golden hives and honeycombsAbove you in the air.The rhythm in this poem isslow – to match the nightgently falling and thelights slowly coming on.By Mary Britton Miller6

SoundWriters love to use interesting sounds intheir poems. After all, poems are meant tobe heard. These sound devices include:Rhymen Repetitionn Alliterationn Onomatopoeian 7

Rhymen n n Rhymes are words thatend with the same sound.(Hat, cat and bat rhyme.)Rhyming sounds don’thave to be spelled thesame way. (Cloud andallowed rhyme.)Rhyme is the mostcommon sound device inpoetry.8

Rhyming Patternsn n Poets can choose froma variety of differentrhyming patterns.(See next four slidesfor examples.)n n n n AABB – lines 1 & 2 rhymeand lines 3 & 4 rhymeABAB – lines 1 & 3 rhymeand lines 2 & 4 rhymeABBA – lines 1 & 4 rhymeand lines 2 & 3 rhymeABCB – lines 2 & 4 rhymeand lines 1 & 3 do notrhyme9

AABB Rhyming PatternFirst SnowSnow makes whiteness where it falls.The bushes look like popcorn balls.And places where I always play,Look like somewhere else today.By Marie Louise Allen10

ABAB Rhyming PatternOodles of NoodlesI love noodles. Give me oodles.Make a mound up to the sun.Noodles are my favorite foodles.I eat noodles by the ton.By Lucia and James L. Hymes, Jr.11

ABBA Rhyming PatternFrom “Bliss”Let me fetch sticks,Let me fetch stones,Throw me your bones,Teach me your tricks.By Eleanor Farjeon12

ABCB Rhyming PatternThe AlligatorThe alligator chased his tailWhich hit him in the snout;He nibbled, gobbled, swallowed it,And turned right inside-out.by Mary Macdonald13

Repetitionn n n n n Repetition occurs whenpoets repeat words, phrases,or lines in a poem.Creates a pattern.Increases rhythm.Strengthens feelings, ideasand mood in a poem.(See next slide for example.)14

Repetition ExampleThe SunSome one tossed a pancake,A buttery, buttery, pancake.Someone tossed a pancakeAnd flipped it up so high,That now I see the pancake,The buttery, buttery pancake,Now I see that pancakeStuck against the sky.by Sandra Liatsos15

Alliterationn n Alliteration is therepetition of the firstconsonant sound inwords, as in thenursery rhyme “PeterPiper picked a peckof pickled peppers.”(See next slide forexample.)The snake slithered silentlyalong the sunny sidewalk.16

Alliteration ExampleThis ToothI jiggled itjaggled itjerked it.I pushedand pulledand poked it.But –As soon as I stopped,And left it aloneThis tooth came outOn its very own!by Lee Bennett Hopkins17

Onomatopoeian n n Words that represent theactual sound of somethingare words of onomatopoeia.Dogs “bark,” cats “purr,”thunder “booms,” rain“drips,” and the clock “ticks.”Appeals to the sense ofsound.(See next slide for example.)18

Onomatopoeia ExampleListenScrunch, scrunch, scrunch.Crunch, crunch, crunch.Frozen snow and brittle iceMake a winter sound that’s niceUnderneath my stamping feetAnd the cars along the street.Scrunch, scrunch, scrunch.Crunch, crunch, crunch.by Margaret Hillert19

Imageryn n n n Imagery is the use of wordsto create pictures, or images,in your mind.Appeals to the five senses:smell, sight, hearing, tasteand touch.Details about smells, sounds,colors, and taste createstrong images.To create vivid imageswriters use figures of speech.Five Senses20

Figures of Speechn n Figures of speech aretools that writers use tocreate images, or “paintpictures,” in your mind.Similes, metaphors, andpersonification are threefigures of speech thatcreate imagery.21

Similen n n A simile compares twothings using the words“like” or “as.”Comparing one thing toanother creates a vividimage.(See next slide forexample.)The runner streaked like a cheetah.22

Simile ExampleFlintAn emerald is as green as grass,A ruby red as blood;A sapphire shines as blue as heaven;A flint lies in the mud.A diamond is a brilliant stone,To catch the world’s desire;An opal holds a fiery spark;But a flint holds fire.By Christina Rosetti23

Metaphorn n n A metaphor comparestwo things without usingthe words “like” or “as.”Gives the qualities of onething to something that isquite different.(See next slide forexample.)The winter wind is a wolfhowling at the door.24

Metaphor ExampleThe Night is a Big Black CatThe Night is a big black catThe moon is her topaz eye,The stars are the mice she hunts at night,In the field of the sultry sky.By G. Orr Clark25

Personificationn n Personification giveshuman traits andfeelings to things thatare not human – likeanimals or objects.(See next slide forexample.)The moon smiled down at me.26

Personification ExampleFrom “Mister Sun”Mister SunWakes up at dawn,Puts his goldenSlippers on,Climbs the summerSky at noon,Trading placesWith the moon.by J. Patrick Lewis27

Forms of PoetryThere are many forms of poetry including the:n n n n n n n n n CoupletTercetAcrosticCinquainHaikuSenryuConcrete PoemFree VerseLimerick28

Lines and Stanzasn n n n Most poems arewritten in lines.A group of lines ina poem is called astanza.Stanzas separateideas in a poem.They act likeparagraphs.This poem has twostanzas.MarchA blue dayA blue jayAnd a good beginning.One crow,Melting snow –Spring’s winning!By Eleanor Farjeon29

Coupletn n A couplet is a poem,or stanza in a poem,written in two lines.Usually rhymes.The JellyfishWho wants my jellyfish?I’m not sellyfish!By Ogden Nash30

Tercetn n n A tercet is a poem, orstanza, written in threelines.Usually rhymes.Lines 1 and 2 canrhyme; lines 1 and 3 canrhyme; sometimes all 3lines rhyme.Winter MoonHow thin and sharp is the moon tonight!How thin and sharp and ghostly whiteIs the slim curved crook of the moon tonight!By Langston Hughes31

Quatrainn n n n n A quatrain is a poem, orstanza, written in fourlines.The quatrain is the mostcommon form of stanzaused in poetry.Usually rhymes.Can be written in varietyof rhyming patterns.(See slide 9 entitled“Rhyming Patterns.”)The LizardThe lizard is a timid thingThat cannot dance or fly or sing;He hunts for bugs beneath the floorAnd longs to be a dinosaur.By John Gardner32

Traditional Cinquainn n A cinquain is a poemwritten in five lines that donot rhyme.Traditional cinquain hasfive lines containing 22syllables in the followingpattern:Line 1 – 2 syllablesLine 2 – 4 syllablesLine 3 – 6 syllablesLine 4 – 8 syllablesLine 5 – 2 syllablesOh, catare you grinningcurled in the window seatas sun warms you this Decembermorning?By Paul B. Janezco33

Word-Count Cinquainn Word-count cinquain for youngerstudents uses the followingpattern:Line 1: One word (title)Line 2: Two words (describe thetitle)Line 3: Three words (describe anaction)Line 4: Four words (describe afeeling)Line 5: One word (another word fortitle)OwlSwift, ferociousWatches for foodSoaring through the nightHunter34

Diamanten n n n n A diamante is a sevenline poem written in theshape of a diamond.Does not rhyme.Follows pattern.Can use synonyms orantonyms.(See next two slides forexamples.)Diamante PatternLine 1 – Your topic (noun)Line 2 – Two adjectives aboutLine 3 – Three “ing” words aboutLine 4 – Four nouns or shortphrase linking topic (or topics)Line 5 – Three “ing” words aboutLine 5 – Two adjectives aboutLine 7 – Your ending topic (noun)35

Synonym DiamanteMonstersCreepy, sinister,Hiding, lurking, stalking,Vampires, mummies, werewolves and more –Chasing, pouncing eating,Hungry, scary,Creatures36

Antonym DiamanteDayBright, sunny,Laughing, playing, doing,Up in the east, down in the west –Talking, resting, sleeping,Quiet, dark,Night37

Haikun n n n A haiku is a Japanesepoem with 3 lines of 5, 7,and 5 syllables. (Total of17 syllables.)Does not rhyme.Is about an aspect ofnature or the seasons.Captures a moment intime.Little frog amongrain-shaken leaves, are you, too,splashed with fresh, green paint?by Gaki38

Senryun n n A senryu follows samepattern as haiku.Written in 3 unrhymedlines of 5, 7, and 5syllables, with total of 17syllables.Is about human nature,rather than natural world.First day, new school year,backpack harbors a fossil last June’s cheese sandwich.By Cristine O’Connell George39

Concrete Poemn n n A concrete poem (alsocalled shape poem) iswritten in the shape ofits subject.The way the words arearranged is as importantwhat they mean.Does not have to rhyme.40

Free Versen n A free verse poemdoes not use rhyme orpatterns.Can vary freely inlength of lines,stanzas, and subject.RevengeWhen I find outwho tookthe last cookyout of the jarand leftme a bunch ofstale old messycrumbs, I'mgoing to takeme a handfuland crumbup someone's bed.By Myra Cohn Livingston41

Acrosticn n n In an acrostic poemthe first letter of eachline, read down thepage, spells thesubject of the poem.Type of free versepoem.Does not usuallyrhyme.Loose brown parachuteEscapingAndFloating on puffs of air.by Paul Paolilli42

Limerickn n n n n A limerick is a funnypoem of 5 lines.Lines 1, 2 & 5 rhyme.Lines 3 & 4 areshorter and rhyme.Line 5 refers to line 1.Limericks are a kindof nonsense poem.There Seems to Be a ProblemI really don’t know about Jim.When he comes to our farm for a swim,The fish as a rule,jump out of the pool.Is there something the matter with him?By John Ciardi43

Nonsense Poemsn n A nonsense poem is ahumorous poem withsilly characters andactions. It is meant tobe fun.Can be written as alimerick or as anotherform of poetry.A Princess LamentsI kissed a frog because I’d heardThat it would turn into a prince.That’s not exactly what occurred,And I’ve been croaking ever since.by Jack Prelutsky44

Word Playn Some poets use aspecial kind of wordplay by making upwords or misspellingthem on purpose.The WalrusThe pounding spatterOf salty seaMakes the walrusWalrusty.By Douglas Florian45

VoiceHello!Hi!“Voice” is the speaker in a poem. The speakercan be the poet himself or a character he createdin the poem. There can be one speaker or manyspeakers.n n n n Poet as speaker (slides 47-49)Human character in poem as speaker (slide 50)Object or animal as speaker (slides 51-52)More than one speaker (slides 53-54)46

Voice: Poet as SpeakerThe WindWho has seen the wind?Neither I nor you:But when the leaves hang tremblingThe wind is passing thro’.Who has seen the wind?Neither you nor I:But when the trees bow down their heads,The wind is passing by.by Christina RosettiIn this poem, the poetspeaks of her feelingsabout the power of thewind.47

Voice: Poet as SpeakerThe Sugar LadyThere is an old lady who lives down the hall,Wrinkled and gray and toothless and small.At seven already she’s up,Going from door to door with a cup.“Do you have any sugar?” she asks,Although she’s got more than you.“Do you have any sugar?” she asks,Hoping you’ll talk for a minute or two.by Frank AschIn this poem, the poet tellsa story about a lonely oldwoman hoping to talk.48