PoetryPoetry

Poetry is….Poetry is….

• Difficult to define– Why? Because it has been around so long,

poetry has become a widely varied art form.

• Difficult to define– Why? Because it has been around so long,

poetry has become a widely varied art form.

• Older than any other genre of writing– The first poems were written 2000 years

before Christ.

• Older than any other genre of writing– The first poems were written 2000 years

before Christ.

Poetry is….Poetry is….

• A genre in which the quality of language is just as important as the meaning.– Sometimes more important!

• Dense– There is a lot “happening” in a small amount

of space.

• A genre in which the quality of language is just as important as the meaning.– Sometimes more important!

• Dense– There is a lot “happening” in a small amount

of space.

Poetry has been used to…Poetry has been used to…

• Record historical events

• Record myths/legends

• Entertain

• Release emotion

• Bring in customers

• Criticize government/society

• Romance lovers

• Record historical events

• Record myths/legends

• Entertain

• Release emotion

• Bring in customers

• Criticize government/society

• Romance lovers

Poetry can be found…Poetry can be found…

• In textbooks and literature

• Greeting cards

• Graffiti

• Songs

• Famous speeches

• TV/Radio commercials

• Church services and prayers

• In textbooks and literature

• Greeting cards

• Graffiti

• Songs

• Famous speeches

• TV/Radio commercials

• Church services and prayers

Poetry is…Poetry is…

• EVERYWHERE!• EVERYWHERE!

Poetry is written about…Poetry is written about…

• Religion

• Love

• War

• Nature

• Relationships

• Sex

• Drugs

• Religion

• Love

• War

• Nature

• Relationships

• Sex

• Drugs

• Peace

• Animals

• School

• Sports

• Racism

• Mean teachers

• Work

• Peace

• Animals

• School

• Sports

• Racism

• Mean teachers

• Work

Poetry is written about….Poetry is written about….

•EVERYTHING!•EVERYTHING!

There are many kinds of poems. There are many kinds of poems.

• Impossible to count

• New poems are being written all the time

• Impossible to count

• New poems are being written all the time

Fixed/closed form poemsFixed/closed form poems

• Sonnet (Usually about love)– Has a set rhyme pattern

• (Petrarchan) abba abba cdcdcd

• (Shakespearean) abab cdcd efef gg

• Sonnet (Usually about love)– Has a set rhyme pattern

• (Petrarchan) abba abba cdcdcd

• (Shakespearean) abab cdcd efef gg

• Haiku (usually about nature)– From China– 3 lines, each with a set number of syllables: 5, 7,

5

• Haiku (usually about nature)– From China– 3 lines, each with a set number of syllables: 5, 7,

5

Other closed/fixed form poemsOther closed/fixed form poems

• Limerick

• ABC

• Acrostic

• Sestina

• Villanelle

• Many more…

• Limerick

• ABC

• Acrostic

• Sestina

• Villanelle

• Many more…

Open form (free verse) poetryOpen form (free verse) poetry

• No rules about rhyme pattern, number of lines, number of syllables, etc.

• No rules about rhyme pattern, number of lines, number of syllables, etc.

Poetic devicesPoetic devices

• Tools poets use to make their poetry…– Easier to read– More specific– More interesting– Deeper– More memorable

• Tools poets use to make their poetry…– Easier to read– More specific– More interesting– Deeper– More memorable

RhymeRhyme

• Use of words with the same end sounds.– At the end of lines

• There was a man from Nantucket whose body was shaped like a bucket

– Within lines• There was a boy named Little Leroy

• Use of words with the same end sounds.– At the end of lines

• There was a man from Nantucket whose body was shaped like a bucket

– Within lines• There was a boy named Little Leroy

AlliterationAlliteration

• Repetition of a beginning consonant sound– Greek god– Dangerous dragon

• Repetition of a beginning consonant sound– Greek god– Dangerous dragon

ConsonanceConsonance

• Repetition of consonant sounds in a line, stanza, or whole poem– Laughter lights yellow flames in dangling

lamps

• Repetition of consonant sounds in a line, stanza, or whole poem– Laughter lights yellow flames in dangling

lamps

AssonanceAssonance

• Repetition of vowel sounds in a line, stanza, or whole poem– Hey you, there’s only room for two on the

moon.

• Repetition of vowel sounds in a line, stanza, or whole poem– Hey you, there’s only room for two on the

moon.

Meter/RhythmMeter/Rhythm

• Some poems have rhythm due to rhyme and stressed and unstressed syllables.– eeny meeny miny moe

catch a tiger by the toe

• Some poems have rhythm due to rhyme and stressed and unstressed syllables.– eeny meeny miny moe

catch a tiger by the toe

Figurative languageFigurative language

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Onomatopoeia

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Onomatopoeia

SimileSimile

• Comparing two things using “like” or “as”– “Quiet as a mouse”– “Talkative as an ATS student”– “He ran like he was being chased by an ax

murderer”

• Comparing two things using “like” or “as”– “Quiet as a mouse”– “Talkative as an ATS student”– “He ran like he was being chased by an ax

murderer”

MetaphorMetaphor

• Language that compares two seemingly unrelated things

• This creates a sharper understanding or picture of the concept being explained

• Figurative meaning! Not literal!

• Language that compares two seemingly unrelated things

• This creates a sharper understanding or picture of the concept being explained

• Figurative meaning! Not literal!

Metaphor examplesMetaphor examples

• “His hair was a mop”– What does this mean? His head isn’t really a

mop. Describe what you picture…

• “His hair was a mop”– What does this mean? His head isn’t really a

mop. Describe what you picture…

Metaphor examplesMetaphor examples

• “Soldiers on parade, the ants marched toward the dropped candy”

• How might the ants be like soldiers on parade? That is what the writer wants you to picture.

• “Soldiers on parade, the ants marched toward the dropped candy”

• How might the ants be like soldiers on parade? That is what the writer wants you to picture.

Metaphor examplesMetaphor examples

• Sometimes a whole poem or story is a metaphor for something else.– “Oh Captain, My Captain” by Walt Whitman

• Appears to be about a captain of a ship, but is really about Abraham Lincoln

• Sometimes a whole poem or story is a metaphor for something else.– “Oh Captain, My Captain” by Walt Whitman

• Appears to be about a captain of a ship, but is really about Abraham Lincoln

• Giving human or lifelike characteristics to something that is not human or alive.

• This offers a new perspective through which we are able to see our world in new ways.

• This also makes the language more interesting.

• Giving human or lifelike characteristics to something that is not human or alive.

• This offers a new perspective through which we are able to see our world in new ways.

• This also makes the language more interesting.

PersonificationPersonification

Personification examplesPersonification examples

• “The moon danced on the lake”

• “As the wind blew, the trees sang and told their ancient stories.”

• Whenever you see talking animals, toasters, cars, etc in movies.

• “The moon danced on the lake”

• “As the wind blew, the trees sang and told their ancient stories.”

• Whenever you see talking animals, toasters, cars, etc in movies.

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

• Whenever natural sounds are written out in words.– “Hiss” (snake, balloon letting out its air, car on

wet pavement)– “Cluck cluck cluck” (chicken)– “Boom” (bomb or blast)

• Whenever natural sounds are written out in words.– “Hiss” (snake, balloon letting out its air, car on

wet pavement)– “Cluck cluck cluck” (chicken)– “Boom” (bomb or blast)

How do we read poetry?How do we read poetry?

• Slowly

• Several times

• Curiously– There is a lot to look for! Be observant!

• Slowly

• Several times

• Curiously– There is a lot to look for! Be observant!

On the first time through,On the first time through,

• Get an overall feel of the mood and situation.– What emotions are involved?– What is going on?– Who is speaking to the reader?– What connections can you make?

• Get an overall feel of the mood and situation.– What emotions are involved?– What is going on?– Who is speaking to the reader?– What connections can you make?

Then…Then…

• Read slowly. Look at the poem carefully.– What tools does the poet use to enhance meaning?– To make the poem more interesting?– What is your favorite line, image, or stanza?– Finally, describe the experience that the poem creates for

the reader.

• Read slowly. Look at the poem carefully.– What tools does the poet use to enhance meaning?– To make the poem more interesting?– What is your favorite line, image, or stanza?– Finally, describe the experience that the poem creates for

the reader.

“Harlem” by Langston Hughes“Harlem” by Langston HughesWhat happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?