INTRODUCTION TO Poetr y The basic unit of

INTRODUCTION TO Poetr y

The basic unit of poetry is the line. Most poems have a structure in which each line contains a set amount of syllables; this is called meter. Lines are also often grouped into stanzas - similar to a paragraph. (2) Couplet: a two line stanza (3) Triplet: a three line stanza (4) Quatrain: a four line stanza (5) Cinquain: a five line stanza Often the lines in a stanza will have a specific rhyme scheme.

Rhyme is when the endings of the words sound the same. Dust of Snow by Robert Frost The way a crow Shook down on me The dust of snow From a hemlock tree Has given my heart A change of mood And save some part Of a day I had rued.

Rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhyming words at the end of each line. They are not hard to identify, but you must look carefully at which words rhyme and which do not. Dust of Snow by Robert Frost A B C D The way a crow Shook down on me The dust of snow From a hemlock tree Has given my heart A change of mood And save some part Of a day I had rued.

Repetition is the repeating of a sound, word, or phrase for emphasis. Inside the house (I get ready) Inside the car (I go to school) Inside the school (I wait for the bell to ring)

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE DEFINITION SIMILE METAPHOR USE OF ‘LIKE’ OR ‘AS’ TO COMPARE COMPARISON BETWEEN 2 UNLIKE THINGS IMAGERY APPEAL TO SENSES – TASTE, SIGHT, SOUND, TOUCH, SMELL ALLITERATION THE REPEATED SOUND OF THE FIRST CONSONANT IN A SERIES OF MULTIPLE WORDS: TERRY THISTLE THREW A THORNY THISTLE EXAGGERATION TO EMPHASIZE OR HEIGHTEN EFFECT – HYPERBOLE IDIOM EXPRESSIONS OXYMORON CONTRADICTORY TERMS APPEAR TOGETHER ONAMATOPEIA WORD FORMED FROM SOUNDS - BUZZ, CLICK PERSONIFICATION GIVING HUMAN QUALITIES TO AN ANIMAL OR OBJECT ZOOMORPHISM GIVING ANIMAL QUALITIES TO A PERSON OR PERSON REPETITION REPEAT OF A WORD/PHRASE IN ORDER TO EMPHASIZE

MOST COMMON TYPES OF POEMS 1) Free Verse (without proper use of rules) 2) Haiku (3 lines : 5 -7 -5 syllables) 3) Limerick (5 lines – AABBA) 4) Narrative Poem (simple stanzas with refrain) 5) Sonnets (14 lines with strict rhythmic pattern) 6) Epitaph (commemorative inscription on a tombstone) 7) Epic (long serious poems – 5 page poem) 8) Prose (straightforward ordinary language)

Some might consider the study of poetry old fashioned, yet even in our hurried lives we are surrounded by it: 1) Children's rhymes/lullabies Twinkle twinkle little star How I wonder what you are A A 2) Verses from rap/pop songs Starships are meant to fly… A Hands up and touch the sky… A 3) Commercial jingles Get your skis shined up, A Grab a stick of Juicy Fruit – B The taste is gonna move you! C Move you up! A Move you out! D The taste is gonna move you C When you pop it in your mouth!D

THREE STEPS TO ANALYZE A POEM 1. READ THE POEM AND ESTABLISH THE RHYME SCHEME. 2. FIND THE FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN THE POEM. 3. ESTABLISH THEME OR MESSAGE OF THE POEM.

NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY BY ROBERT FROST Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf.

1. READ THE POEM AND ESTABLISH THE RHYME SCHEME. Nature’s first green is gold, A Her hardest hue to hold. A Her early leaf’s a flower; B But only so an hour. B Then leaf subsides to leaf.

2. FIND THE FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN THE POEM. Nature’s first green is gold, METAPHOR + ALLITERATION + PERSONIF. Her hardest hue to hold. METAPHOR + ALLITERATION + PERSONIF. Her early leaf’s a flower; PERSONIF. But only so an hour. NONE Then leaf subsides to leaf. REPETITION + IMAGERY So Eden sank to grief, PERSONIF. So dawn goes down to day.

3. ESTABLISH THEME OR MESSAGE OF THE POEM. Nature’s first green is gold, SPRING Her hardest hue to hold. SPRING Her early leaf’s a flower; SUMMER But only so an hour. SUMMER Then leaf subsides to leaf. FALL nothing, even if it is perfect and beautiful, can last forever. So Eden sank to grief, FALL