THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF POETRY POETRY TERMS Line

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF POETRY

POETRY TERMS Line- similar to a sentence in a paragraph Stanza- a formal division of lines in a poem, considered as a unit. Often stanzas are separated by spaces. (like a paragraph)

Meter-a poem’s rhythmical pattern determined by the number of stresses in each line. Each syllable gets its own stress or unstressed symbol. ( = unstressed = stressed symbols) Iamb-a foot with one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable Rhythm-the stresses pattern of beats, or

Feet - stressed and unstressed symbols divided by vertical lines. 2 syllables per foot. Lines are described in the number of feet that occur in them.

TYPES OF METER Dimeter: verse written in 2 foot lines. What do you say Trimeter: I verse written in 3 foot lines know not whom I meet Tetrameter: I verse written in 4 foot lines wandered lonely as a cloud Pentameter: All verse written in 5 foot lines losses are restored and sorrows end

Rhyme-the repetition of sounds at the end of words. Rhyme scheme-a regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem indicated by using different letters for each new rhyme. Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Know Same Me Dough Came Name You Lame Me Through Tame Came Perhaps Bear Traps Black

TYPES OF POEMS – FIXED FORM Limerick – A humorous five line poem with a rhyme scheme of aabba. First, Second, and fifth lines have 9 -10 syllables, and the 3 rd and 4 th lines have 5 -6 syllables. Haiku – three line poem that does NOT rhyme – 1 st line has five syllables, 2 nd line has seven syllables, and the third line has five syllables. They are often about nature. Sonnet – A fourteen line lyric poem in iambic pentameter that has a rhyme scheme of ababcdcdefefgg.

TYPES OF POEMS – NON-FIXED FORM Free Verse – Poetry not written in a regular rhyming pattern or rhythm. Narrative Lyrical – poem that tells a story. – A poem that uses sound devices (alliteration, onomatopoeia, rhyme, rhythm…) to achieve a musical quality. It usually expresses the feelings of a lone speaker.

TYPES OF POEMS – SEMI-FIXED FORM Ballad – a song like poem that tells a story often about adventure or romance. It has verses that are 4 -6 lines and a refrain that is repeated. Blank Verse – unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter. Shakespeare often used this in his plays.

SOUND DEVICES Alliteration sounds Ex. – repetition of initial consonant Suzy sells seashells at the seashore. Assonance – repetition of vowel sounds. Ex. How much would could a wood chuck, chuck… Internal Ex. Rhyme – words rhyming within a line The cat sat before he ate the rat. Onomatopoeia sounds Ex. – Use of words that imitate Bang, Swoosh, Snap, Crackle, Pop

FIGURATIVE VS. LITERAL LANGUAGE Literal Language – words follow their denotation or definition Figurative Language – words mean something other than their denotation or dictionary definition Give the figurative and literal meanings for the following sentences. She is hot. Stick your foot in your mouth. Eat your words.

TYPES OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Metaphor Ex. – Comparison of two unlike things Life is a highway. Simile – Comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as” Ex. She is as sweet as candy. Hyperbole Ex. – Extreme Exaggeration I am so hungry that I could eat a horse. Personification – Giving human characteristics to something not human The wind sighed softly to itself.

SYMBOLISM In poetry words have deeper meaning than their literal dictionary definition. Oftentimes, one word or phrase can symbolize a concept or idea. The word stands for something more profound -this is called symbolism. Example: Scales Lion = Justice = Royalty or Courage