PoetryPoetry

Jessica Dockter, Fall 2009Jessica Dockter, Fall 2009Adapted from Beth BrendlerAdapted from Beth BrendlerUniversity of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota

Why Poetry?Why Poetry?

Pay attention to wordsPay attention to words ““a poem begins in delight and ends in a poem begins in delight and ends in

wisdom”wisdom”-- Robert Frost-- Robert Frost

Understand how language worksUnderstand how language works Reading aloud to Reading aloud to HEARHEAR & revel in & revel in

languagelanguage

Choral reading to improve fluencyChoral reading to improve fluency

PoetryPoetry Poetic language is innovative & Poetic language is innovative &

surprisingsurprising Careful word choices & original Careful word choices & original

comparisonscomparisons Sounds are combined in ways that Sounds are combined in ways that

make words singmake words sing Engaging contentEngaging content

The Blue BetweenThe Blue Between

Everyone watches clouds,Everyone watches clouds,naming creatures they’ve seen.naming creatures they’ve seen.I see sky differently,I see sky differently,I see the blue between – I see the blue between –

The blue woman tuggingThe blue woman tuggingher stubborn cloud across the sky.her stubborn cloud across the sky.The blue giraffe stretchingThe blue giraffe stretchingto nibble a cloud floating by.to nibble a cloud floating by.A pod of dancing dolphins,A pod of dancing dolphins,cloud oceans, cargo ships,cloud oceans, cargo ships,a boy twirling his clouda boy twirling his cloudaround a thin blue fingertip.around a thin blue fingertip.

In those smooth wide places,In those smooth wide places,I see a different scene.I see a different scene.In those cloudless spaces,In those cloudless spaces,I see the blue betweenI see the blue between

Kristine O’Connell GeorgeKristine O’Connell George

Checklist for Evaluating PoetryChecklist for Evaluating Poetry Purposeful form and sound elementsPurposeful form and sound elements

Rhyme, rhythm, repetitionRhyme, rhythm, repetition Words, lines, stanzasWords, lines, stanzas Convey meaning about the subject or Convey meaning about the subject or

moodmood Engaging subjects speak to Engaging subjects speak to intendedintended

readersreaders Verbal & emotional intelligenceVerbal & emotional intelligence

Anthologies are inclusive, Anthologies are inclusive, purposeful, & logical purposeful, & logical

Forms of PoetryForms of Poetry Narrative poetryNarrative poetry

– tells a story – tells a story Lyric poetryLyric poetry – –

statement of statement of mood or feeling mood or feeling

Free verseFree verse – – unrhymed verse unrhymed verse with an with an irregular patternirregular pattern

Forms of PoetryForms of Poetry HaikuHaiku – nature or a – nature or a

particular event particular event 3 lines and 17 3 lines and 17 syllablessyllables

Concrete poetryConcrete poetry – – uses the appearance uses the appearance of words on a page of words on a page to suggest or to suggest or illustrate the illustrate the meaningmeaning

Forms of PoetryForms of Poetry LimerickLimerick – 5 lines – 5 lines

and a rhyme and a rhyme scheme of a-a-b-b-ascheme of a-a-b-b-a

BalladBallad – tells a – tells a story in verse, story in verse, often sungoften sung

Riddle poemsRiddle poems

Novels in verseNovels in verse

Poetic ElementsPoetic ElementsWord playWord playOutrageous situationsOutrageous situationsUnexpected viewpointsUnexpected viewpointsSensory imagery Sensory imagery Figurative language Figurative language Commonplace experiences become Commonplace experiences become

extraordinaryextraordinary

Poetic TechniquesPoetic TechniquesMakes the imagery vivid Makes the imagery vivid SimileSimile - like or as - like or as MetaphorMetaphor - something is stated as - something is stated as

something else something else

morning is a new sheet of paper morning is a new sheet of paper Eve Merriam – MetaphorEve Merriam – Metaphor

Poetic TechniquesPoetic Techniques Repetition of consonantsRepetition of consonants – –

Lickety, pickety, ricketyLickety, pickety, rickety PersonificationPersonification - representing a - representing a

thing or abstraction as a person thing or abstraction as a person RisingRisingLike a fresh loafLike a fresh loafSun rises,Sun rises,Tempting dawnTempting dawnTo breakTo breakHer golden crustHer golden crust

Taste morning!Taste morning!

Poetic TechniquesPoetic Techniques AlliterationAlliteration – repetition of initial – repetition of initial

consonants sounds at close consonants sounds at close intervalsintervals

Timothy Tompkins had turnips and tea.Timothy Tompkins had turnips and tea.The turnips were tiny.The turnips were tiny.He ate at least three. He ate at least three.

Karla Kuskin from Karla Kuskin from The MealThe Meal

Poetic TechniquesPoetic Techniques AssonanceAssonance – repetition of vowel – repetition of vowel

sounds at close intervalssounds at close intervalsSusie’s galoshesSusie’s galoshesMake splishes and sploshesMake splishes and sploshesAnd slooshes and sloshesAnd slooshes and sloshesAs Susie steps slowlyAs Susie steps slowlyAlong in the slush.Along in the slush.

Rhoda Bacmeister from GaloshesRhoda Bacmeister from Galoshes

Poetic TechniquesPoetic Techniques

Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia – words created – words created from natural sounds associated from natural sounds associated with the thing or action with the thing or action

Splishes, sploshes, slushSplishes, sploshes, slush

Poetic TechniquesPoetic Techniques

RhythmRhythm – recurrence of specific – recurrence of specific beats of stressed and unstressed beats of stressed and unstressed syllablessyllables

Over and over the tumblers tumbleOver and over the tumblers tumblewith never a fumblewith never a fumblewith never a stumblewith never a stumble

Jack Prelutsky from Jack Prelutsky from CircusCircus

Poetic TechniquesPoetic TechniquesRunover rhymeRunover rhyme – the last word of – the last word of one line rhymes with the first one line rhymes with the first word of the next lineword of the next lineWho am I now?Who am I now?How am I to be?How am I to be?Looking behindLooking behindTo find the future me.To find the future me.

David Harrison from David Harrison from The Future MeThe Future Me

End rhymeEnd rhyme – the last word of the – the last word of the line rhymesline rhymes

Poetry AnthologiesPoetry Anthologies

Specialized AnthologiesSpecialized Anthologies Generalized / Collective AnthologiesGeneralized / Collective Anthologies Picture booksPicture books Novels in verseNovels in verse

NCTE Award for NCTE Award for Poetry for ChildrenPoetry for Children

Started in 1977 given every third year Started in 1977 given every third year • David McCordDavid McCord• Aileen FisherAileen Fisher• Karla KuskinKarla Kuskin• Myra Cohn LivingstonMyra Cohn Livingston• Eve MerriamEve Merriam• Jon CiardiJon Ciardi• Lilian MooreLilian Moore• Arnold AdoffArnold Adoff• X.J. KennedyX.J. Kennedy• Mary Ann HobermanMary Ann Hoberman• Nikki GrimesNikki Grimes• Lee Bennett HopkinsLee Bennett Hopkins

Teaching PoetryTeaching Poetry Teaching poetry throughout the Teaching poetry throughout the

year – interspersed in other year – interspersed in other unitsunits

Allow students to dip in and out Allow students to dip in and out of poetryof poetry

Kids are taught to be afraid of or Kids are taught to be afraid of or to dislike poetryto dislike poetry