PoetryPoetryA type of literature in which words are carefully chosen and arranged to create certain effects, thoughts, or feelings.

The structure = rhyme, rhythm, meter, line, and stanza

SPEAKER VS POETSPEAKER VS POET

The voice that “talks” to the reader, The voice that “talks” to the reader, similar to the narrator in fiction. similar to the narrator in fiction.

The speaker is not necessarily the poet.The speaker is not necessarily the poet.

To understand a poem, you must learn To understand a poem, you must learn who the speaker is and how he/she who the speaker is and how he/she feels.feels.

If the poem mentions certain experiences If the poem mentions certain experiences that had happened doesn’t mean that it that had happened doesn’t mean that it happened to the poet personally.happened to the poet personally.

ELEMENTS OF POETRYELEMENTS OF POETRY

GRAPHIC ELEMENTS (capitalization, GRAPHIC ELEMENTS (capitalization, punctuation, line breaks, white spaces) punctuation, line breaks, white spaces)

SENSORY DETAILS (5 senses)SENSORY DETAILS (5 senses)

RHYTHM-Word Choice and PacingRHYTHM-Word Choice and Pacing

SOUND PATTERNS-(rhyme, SOUND PATTERNS-(rhyme, onomatopoeia, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, alliteration, assonance, consonance)consonance)

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGEFIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Capitalization/Capitalization/PunctuationPunctuation

Is used to show the reader how to read the poemIs used to show the reader how to read the poem A poem may not have any punctuation; sometimes a comma A poem may not have any punctuation; sometimes a comma

is left off because a line break signals a PAUSE, and a is left off because a line break signals a PAUSE, and a comma isn’t necessarycomma isn’t necessary

There could have been a comma after There could have been a comma after speakspeak, but it’s not , but it’s not necessary.necessary.

Monsters undermy bednever speaknever movebut they arethere.

Capitalization/Punctuation Capitalization/Punctuation ContinuedContinued

Poems may have commas, semi-colons, periods, question marks, Poems may have commas, semi-colons, periods, question marks, and exclamation pointsand exclamation points

In classic poems, the first word in each line is capitalized. Now, In classic poems, the first word in each line is capitalized. Now, when you see more modern poetry, capitalizing the first letter when you see more modern poetry, capitalizing the first letter creates an effect (formality, strength, or emphasis); Read the creates an effect (formality, strength, or emphasis); Read the poem again-creates a sense of fright.poem again-creates a sense of fright.

Needs to be consistentNeeds to be consistent

Monsters underMy bedNever speakNever moveBut they areThere.

Line Line BreaksBreaks Where the line of poetry ceases to Where the line of poetry ceases to

end and a new line begins. How the end and a new line begins. How the poem is divided.poem is divided.

Some poems have a natural rhythm Some poems have a natural rhythm like a song. It’s easy to know where like a song. It’s easy to know where to break the line.to break the line.

The school is closed and dark,

and the teachers are at home.

The kids are all asleep,

but I’m writing this little poem.

Sometimes the line breaks where the Sometimes the line breaks where the thought ends, or where the reader or thought ends, or where the reader or the poet naturally pauses.the poet naturally pauses.

When summer is departing

and fall is arriving,

the wind whips through the trees

and spooks the cat.

Sometimes the line breaks are in unexpected Sometimes the line breaks are in unexpected places. A poet can break a line in the middle places. A poet can break a line in the middle of a poem to tease you into going to the next of a poem to tease you into going to the next line. A thought can go from one verse, or line. A thought can go from one verse, or stanza, to another. (stanza, to another. (enjambmentenjambment or or run-run-onon))

Home is where you

can shrug off your

backpack and your

worries, sling around

your complaints about

impossible questions on the science

test, and supposedly

best…

It depends how you want to place the line break. It will affect the way affect the way

the poem reads, the poem reads, its meaning, and its meaning, and its appearance!its appearance!

WHITEWHITE SPACESPACE Lines are usually short enough that white space Lines are usually short enough that white space

appears to the right or left of the poem, or both if appears to the right or left of the poem, or both if the poem is in the center of the page.the poem is in the center of the page.

Text can be anywhere on the page.Text can be anywhere on the page. Words can be separated. The words can look like Words can be separated. The words can look like

what they are saying.what they are saying. rain

drip-

ped

and

drop-

ped

down

my

neck

wh te

sn wflakes

f lling

The girls threw the ball

back and forth

Indentions is another way to play with white Indentions is another way to play with white space. In the poem about a walk, the poet might space. In the poem about a walk, the poet might indent as she’s going around a bend.indent as she’s going around a bend.I tiptoed down the path

and around the bend

to find my sister hiding

under

the willow tree Indentions can Indentions can signal opposites signal opposites or two voices or two voices speaking.speaking.

I looked inside

and outside

but she was nowhere.

Indentions can Indentions can place emphasis place emphasis on a part of a on a part of a poem.poem.

My shadow copied me as I

hopped

skipped

and boogied.

SENSORY DETAILSSENSORY DETAILS CREATES STRONG IMAGES OR MENTAL CREATES STRONG IMAGES OR MENTAL

PICTURES FOR THE READERPICTURES FOR THE READER

THESE PICTURES FORMED IN YOUR MIND THESE PICTURES FORMED IN YOUR MIND ARE CALLED IMAGERYARE CALLED IMAGERY

USES THE 5 SENSES: SIGHT, SMELL, TOUCH, USES THE 5 SENSES: SIGHT, SMELL, TOUCH, TASTE, HEARINGTASTE, HEARING

THE USE OF PERSONIFICATION, SIMILE, AND THE USE OF PERSONIFICATION, SIMILE, AND METAPHOR CAN PAINT A VIVID PICTUREMETAPHOR CAN PAINT A VIVID PICTURE

RHYTHM AND REPETITION-RHYTHM AND REPETITION-Word Choice and PacingWord Choice and Pacing

Poets can control the pace, or how Poets can control the pace, or how quickly you read a poem. Some quickly you read a poem. Some words are sharp and short.words are sharp and short.The thorns jab my

arm,

my leg, my cheek.

Other words roll off your tongue and Other words roll off your tongue and you delay, reading more slowly.you delay, reading more slowly.The sunlight meandered over to my hammock

and filled the afternoon with laziness.

RhythmRhythm-The pattern of -The pattern of stressed/unstressed syllables in a line of stressed/unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. It’s the meter poetry. It’s the meter (rhythm that’s organized into (rhythm that’s organized into

specific patterns)specific patterns) of the poem. of the poem.

(brings out musical quality of lang., (brings out musical quality of lang., emphasizes ideas, creates mood)emphasizes ideas, creates mood)

A fast rhythmfast rhythm indicates ACTION, EXCITEMENT, TENSION or SUSPENSE.

A slow rhythmslow rhythm suggests peacefulness, fullness, harmony, and comfort.

In a poem, the rhymes form a pattern called RHYME SCHEME. The letters of the alphabet are used to show the rhyme scheme. Each set of rhyming words is given the same letter.

Under my hat is my hair A

Under my hair is my head B

Under my head is a seven-year beard C

And a tie that is yellow and red D

…coat E

…vest F

…bump G

…chest F

Sound DevicesSound Devices AlliterationAlliteration-The repetition of consonant

sounds at the beginning of words. (Peter Piper picked

a peck of pickled peppers.) and it must show an image.

AssonanceAssonance-Repetition of vowel sounds within -Repetition of vowel sounds within a line of poetry. a line of poetry. ppowerower h hourour mmildild ch childild

ConsonanceConsonance-When words share an ending -When words share an ending consonant sound, but their vowels are different consonant sound, but their vowels are different

liliveve lea leaveve cri cribb na nabb gi giveve mo moveve

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia-When words sound like -When words sound like what they meanwhat they mean

chirp, slash, dart, crush, dash, creakchirp, slash, dart, crush, dash, creak

SkiingSkiing

Down the mountainDown the mountain

Gliding, slidingGliding, sliding

Swish, swooshSwish, swoosh

Almost downAlmost down

Turning right, turning leftTurning right, turning left

Really closeReally close

Swish, swooshSwish, swoosh

At At

the the

bottom.bottom.

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGEFIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

SIMILESIMILE METAPHORMETAPHOR PERSONIFICATIONPERSONIFICATION

SIMILESIMILE

A simile uses the words A simile uses the words like like or or asas to to compare two unlike things.compare two unlike things.

I feel public, like a frog.I feel public, like a frog.

I am as lonely as the last leaf on a I am as lonely as the last leaf on a tree.tree.

METAPHORMETAPHOR

A metaphor also compares two unlike A metaphor also compares two unlike things, but things, but do notdo not use the words use the words likelike or or

asas..

She is a thin sparrow.She is a thin sparrow.

A web of snow engulfed me.A web of snow engulfed me.

PERSONIFICATIONPERSONIFICATION

Sometimes poets use words that make Sometimes poets use words that make things and animals seem human. things and animals seem human.

The trees whispered among The trees whispered among themselves.themselves.