What makes a poem With your elbow partner

What makes a poem? • With your elbow partner write a paragraph about ice cream and a poem about ice cream. – 5 minutes

Compare/Contrast Prose and Poetry • Paragraph (prose) • Poetry

Poetry - definition • Literary genre in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm;

Elements of Poetry • Structure – Lines – Stanzas • Sound devices – – Rhyme Repetition Alliteration assonance • Figurative language – – Simile Metaphor Onomatopoeia personification

Sound devices • Repetition – repeating a word or phrase for rhythm or emphasis “I have a dream!” • Rhyme – the end sound of the word is the same: the fat cat sat on the mat • Alliteration – repetition of the first consonant sound: goody-goody gumdrops! • Assonance – repetition of a vowel sound: Do you like blue? (repeating the ue sound)

Poetry Structure – Copy the poem Number the lines, Highlight the stanzas “The Crocodile” by Lewis Carroll How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail, And pour the waters of the Nile On every golden scale! How cheerfully he seems to grin, How neatly spreads his claws, And welcomes little fishes in, With gently smiling jaws!

What sound devices are in “The Little Turtle” by Vachel Lindsay There was a little turtle. He lived in a box. He swam in a puddle. He climbed on the rocks. He snapped at a mosquito He snapped at a flea. He snapped at a minnow. And he snapped at me. He caught the mosquito He caught the flea. He caught the minnow. But he didn’t catch me.

Forms of Poetry • • Haiku Acrostic Sonnet Free Verse

Haiku An old silent pond… (5 syllables) A frog jumps into the pond, (7 syllables) Splash! Silence again. (5 syllables) Farewell! Like a bee Reluctant to leave the deeps Of a peony

Acrostic Poem

Sonnet – 14 lines • CAT VERSUS by Tasha Guenther • My cat stares blankly at the wall Trying to hunt the light. She flicks her tail and starts to crawl, Eyes focused, fur upright. • I watch her, silently, as she creeps Slowly towards her prey. I remain still, as if fast asleep For this is not child’s play. • Her moving stops, she is ready To jump up and attack. I see her ascend, now unsteady; I gasp, and she looks back. • Her eyes are chasms, black holes throughout, And my flashlight goes quickly out.

Free Verse As long as I live I shall always be My Self – and no other, Just me. Like a tree. Willow, elder, Aspen, thorn, Or cypress forlorn. Like a flower, For its hour. Primrose, or pink Or a violet. Sunned by the sun, And with dewdrops wet. Always just me. “Me” by Walter de la Mare

How to understand appreciate a poem • • Read it several times! Look up words you don’t know Identify figurative language Seek out sound devices Try to paraphrase the poem Re-read the title Look for theme, message, meaning

Your Turn! Write a “Dream” poem • • • Write a free verse poem about your dream(s) At least 10 lines Use at least 2 sound devices Use at least 1 form of figurative language Be creative! Have fun!