Poetry Terms/ Notes Poetry Terms/ Notes 9 9thth grade/Pre-AP grade/Pre-AP

Mrs. Cook Mrs. CookWe don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love…these are what But poetry, beauty, romance, love…these are what we stay alive for.”we stay alive for.”

-Keating in -Keating in Dead Poet’s SocietyDead Poet’s Society

Before we begin…Before we begin…

ProseProse: Any written text that is not in : Any written text that is not in poetic form.poetic form.

PoetryPoetry: A type of literature that : A type of literature that expresses ideas, feelings, or tells a expresses ideas, feelings, or tells a story in a specific form (usually story in a specific form (usually using lines and stanzas).using lines and stanzas).

ProsodyProsody: the study of a poem’s meter: the study of a poem’s meter

ExplicationExplication: the analysis of a poem.: the analysis of a poem.

Poetry Terms to Know:Poetry Terms to Know:

SpeakerSpeaker: Every poem has a speaker, or : Every poem has a speaker, or voice, that talks to the reader. Like a voice, that talks to the reader. Like a narrator in prose, the speaker of the poem narrator in prose, the speaker of the poem is not necessarily the author. The speaker is not necessarily the author. The speaker can be a fictional person, an animal, or can be a fictional person, an animal, or even a living thing. even a living thing.

POETPOET: The poet is the author of the poem.: The poet is the author of the poem.SPEAKERSPEAKER: The speaker of the poem is the : The speaker of the poem is the

“narrator” of the poem. “narrator” of the poem.

Lines & StanzasLines & Stanzas

LinesLines: a word or row of words that : a word or row of words that may or may not make up a complete may or may not make up a complete sentencesentence

StanzaStanza: a group of words that may or : a group of words that may or may not make up a complete may not make up a complete sentence. Stanzas are separated by sentence. Stanzas are separated by a space. a space.

KINDS OF STANZASKINDS OF STANZAS

CoupletCouplet == a two line stanzaa two line stanza

TercetTercet = = a three line stanzaa three line stanza

QuatrainQuatrain == a four line stanzaa four line stanza

QuintetQuintet == a five line stanzaa five line stanza

Sestet Sestet == a six line stanzaa six line stanza

SeptetSeptet == a seven line stanzaa seven line stanza

Octet =Octet = an eight line stanzaan eight line stanza

Rhythm:Rhythm:

Rhythm is the pattern of sound Rhythm is the pattern of sound created by the arrangement of created by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllablesstressed and unstressed syllables

MeterMeter: the organization of beats in : the organization of beats in regular patterns. The basic unit of a regular patterns. The basic unit of a meter is a meter is a footfoot which typically is which typically is made up of at least one stressed and made up of at least one stressed and one unstressed syllable. one unstressed syllable.

Rhyme:Rhyme:

Is the repetition of similar sounds in Is the repetition of similar sounds in words that appear close to each words that appear close to each other in a poemother in a poem

LAMPLAMP STAMPSTAMP

Share the short “a” vowel soundShare the short “a” vowel sound Share the combined “mp” consonant soundShare the combined “mp” consonant sound

Types of RhymeTypes of Rhyme::

1. 1. Approximate RhymeApproximate Rhyme- when two - when two words’ sounds are very close to words’ sounds are very close to rhyming but not exactrhyming but not exact

Approximate Rhyme Example: Approximate Rhyme Example: – wire-right, mind-sign, sound-downwire-right, mind-sign, sound-down

Types of RhymeTypes of Rhyme

2. 2. End RhymeEnd Rhyme- rhymes that occur - rhymes that occur at the end of a lineat the end of a line

Ex: Ex: How statue-like I see thee How statue-like I see thee standstand,,

The agate lamp within thy The agate lamp within thy hand.hand.

From “To Helen” by E. A. PoeFrom “To Helen” by E. A. Poe

Types of RhymeTypes of Rhyme

3. 3. Internal RhymeInternal Rhyme: rhyming words : rhyming words that fall within a single line of poetry.that fall within a single line of poetry.

– Example:Example:

Judge tenderJudge tenderlyly of of memeFrom “This is My Letter to the World” by Emily From “This is My Letter to the World” by Emily

Dickinson. Dickinson.

Rhyme SchemeRhyme Scheme

The pattern of rhyme formed by The pattern of rhyme formed by the end rhyme. It is identified by the end rhyme. It is identified by assigning a different letter to the assigning a different letter to the alphabet to each new rhyme. alphabet to each new rhyme. (a,a,b,b) (a,b,a,b)(a,a,b,b) (a,b,a,b)

– Ex: Gather ye rosebuds while ye may (a)Ex: Gather ye rosebuds while ye may (a)– Old time is still a flying (b)Old time is still a flying (b)– And this same flower that smiles today (a)And this same flower that smiles today (a)– Tomorrow will be dying (b)Tomorrow will be dying (b)

““To the Virgins Make Much of Time” by Robert HerrickTo the Virgins Make Much of Time” by Robert Herrick

Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter

A poem that A poem that contains exactly 10 contains exactly 10 syllables per line. syllables per line.

EX: EX:

uu // uu // uu // uu // uu //

ToTo swellswell thethe gourdgourd,,

andand plumpplump thethe ha-ha- zelzel shellsshells

Figurative Language:Figurative Language:

Is a category of literary terms that is Is a category of literary terms that is used for descriptive effect and is not used for descriptive effect and is not meant to be read literally. Usually, meant to be read literally. Usually, figurative language expresses figurative language expresses meaning beyond the literal level.meaning beyond the literal level.– Literary TermsLiterary Terms

Figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, Figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, symbol)symbol)

– Sound Devices (rhythm, rhyme, repetition, onomatopoeia, Sound Devices (rhythm, rhyme, repetition, onomatopoeia, assonance, consonance, alliteration, anaphora, polysyndeton, assonance, consonance, alliteration, anaphora, polysyndeton, euphony, cacophony)euphony, cacophony)

Types of Figurative Language:Types of Figurative Language:

SimileSimile: comparing seemingly unlike : comparing seemingly unlike things by using “like” or “as”things by using “like” or “as”

Example: “O, my love’s like a red, red Example: “O, my love’s like a red, red rose, rose,

That’s newly sprung in June-”That’s newly sprung in June-”

- Robert Burns- Robert Burns

Types of Figurative Language:Types of Figurative Language:

MetaphorMetaphor – compares or equates – compares or equates seemingly unlike things by stating seemingly unlike things by stating one thing IS another. Metaphors do one thing IS another. Metaphors do not use like or as. not use like or as. – Ex: The grass is the handkerchief of the Lord. Ex: The grass is the handkerchief of the Lord.

From “Song of Myself” by Walt WhitmanFrom “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman

– ““All the world’s a stage, and we are merely All the world’s a stage, and we are merely players”.players”.

William Shakespeare.William Shakespeare.

EXTENDED METAPHOREXTENDED METAPHOR

A metaphor that goes several lines or possible the entire length of a work.

Example “O Captain, My Captain” by Walt Whitman

Types of Figurative Language:Types of Figurative Language:

PersonificationPersonification: is a figure of : is a figure of speech in which an animal, an speech in which an animal, an object, or an idea is given human object, or an idea is given human characteristics.characteristics.– I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers, I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers,

From the seas and the streams;From the seas and the streams;I bear light shade for the leaves when laidI bear light shade for the leaves when laidIn their noonday dreams. In their noonday dreams.

“ “The Clouds” Author unknownThe Clouds” Author unknown

– ““Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.” From “The Raven” by Edgar Allan PoeFrom “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe

ALLITERATION

The repetition of consonant (non- vowel) letters or sounds in two or more words in a line. The repetition must begin the word.

May be known as “tongue-twisters”.

Example: How much dew would a dewdrop drop if a dewdrop did drop dew?

ASSONANCE & CONSONANCEASSONANCE & CONSONANCE

AssonanceAssonance- Repeated VOWEL sounds in a line or lines of poetry.- Repeated VOWEL sounds in a line or lines of poetry.

EX. LakeEX. Lake FateFate BaseBase FadeFade (All share the long “a” sound.)(All share the long “a” sound.)

Examples of ASSONANCE:Examples of ASSONANCE:

““Slow the low gradual moan came in the snowing.”Slow the low gradual moan came in the snowing.”- John MasefieldJohn Masefield

““Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep.”Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep.”- William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Consonance- Repetition of consonant sounds at the middle or end of words.

EX.The man in the orange cumberbund ended his bland speech with a bow.

AnaphoraAnaphora

The repetition of a word or expression The repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of lines at the beginning of lines

– EX: EX: It was the best of times, it was the worst of It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair…”hope, it was the winter of despair…”

- A Tale of Two Cities - A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickensby Charles Dickens

Anaphora cont.Anaphora cont.

Another example of anaphora…Another example of anaphora…And do you nowAnd do you now put on your best attire? put on your best attire?

And do you nowAnd do you now cull out a holiday? cull out a holiday?

And do you nowAnd do you now strew flowers in his way strew flowers in his way

That comes in triumph over Pompey’s That comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood? Be gone!”blood? Be gone!”

from from Julius CaesarJulius Caesar- - ShakespeareShakespeare

PolysyndetonPolysyndeton

Repetition of a conjunction Repetition of a conjunction throughout a piece.throughout a piece.

Example: We all lived Example: We all lived andand laughed laughed andand loved loved andand left. left.

– What are conjunctions? What are conjunctions? Remember BOYSFANRemember BOYSFAN

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

““The Fourth”The Fourth” by Shel Silversteinby Shel Silverstein

OhOhCRASH!CRASH!

mymyBASH!BASH!

it’sit’sBANG!BANG!

the the ZANG!ZANG!FourthFourth

WHOOSH!WHOOSH!OfOf

BAROOM!BAROOM!JulyJuly

WHEW!WHEW!

• Use of words Use of words that sound like that sound like the noises they the noises they describe.describe.

• Poets use Poets use onomatopoeia onomatopoeia to liven up their to liven up their writing and add writing and add fun sounds to it.fun sounds to it.

PunPun

A play on words often meant to be A play on words often meant to be humoroushumorous

Ex: I work as a baker because I Ex: I work as a baker because I knead dough.knead dough.

A bank manager without anyone A bank manager without anyone around may find himself a-loan. around may find himself a-loan.

A bicycle can't stand on its own A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two-tired. because it is two-tired.

Other Poetry Terms:Other Poetry Terms:OxymoronOxymoron

Two or more words that are placed Two or more words that are placed next to each other that contradict. next to each other that contradict.

Ex. Ex.

Hell’s AngelsHell’s Angels

jumbo shrimp jumbo shrimp

act naturally act naturally

pretty ugly pretty ugly

Dodge ramDodge ram

IdiomIdiomAn expression (or coded message) An expression (or coded message) that means something other than that means something other than what it actually says. what it actually says.

If you don’t know or understand the If you don’t know or understand the code, you will not get the message.code, you will not get the message.

** Difficult for foreigners to ** Difficult for foreigners to comprehendcomprehend

Ex. It’s raining cats and dogs, break Ex. It’s raining cats and dogs, break a lega leg

Common Types of PoetryElegy- a poem saying goodbye to someone/something

Limerick – silly, 5 line poem… “There once was a” has the rhyme scheme of aabba

Ode- a poem of praise

Ballad- lyrical poem that tells a story (usually historical)

Haiku- Japanese; 3 lines; 5-7-5 in syllable count

Villanelle- motif of an urgent message/warning; 19 lines; Italian, 5 stanzas with 3 lines; repeated refrain

Sonnet- 14 lines; rhyming couplet at end; Shakespearean or Petrarchan are the two types– often about love

Technique to Analyze Poetry(We will use this in class)

Title

Paraphrase

Connotation

Attitude

Shift

Theme

Title