Introduction to poetry Part 2 “In a poem the words should be as pleasing to the ear as the meaning...
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Transcript of Introduction to poetry Part 2 “In a poem the words should be as pleasing to the ear as the meaning...
Introduction to poetry
Part 2
“In a poem the words should be as pleasing to the ear as
the meaning is to the mind.” -- Marianne Moore
Let’s start with a quick review
•Brain is divided into 2 parts
•Each half has its own functionRight brain: creativeLeft brain: logical
Poetry can be appreciated by both halves.
•Left brain can focus on devices.
•Right brain can play with creative expression.
So far we’ve discussed the following sound devices:Rhyme: the repetition of sounds
Rhythm: the beatMeter: the length of a line of poetryAlliteration: the repetition of the initial sound in two or more words in a lineConsonance: the repetition of a consonant sound two or more times in a lineAssonance: the repetition of a vowel sound two or more times in a lineOnomatopoeia: words that spell out soundsRepetition: using the same key word or phrase
throughout a poemRefrain: the repetition of one or more phrases or lines at the end of each stanza
The Right Brain:
Although the left brain can appreciate the definitions and identification of the
next category of devices, they will primarily appeal to
I give you
the meaning devices:
A comparison between two usually unrelated things using the word “like” or “as”.
Example: Joe is as hungry as a bear.In the morning Rae is like an angry lion.
Let’s see what this looks like in a poem we have never seen before in our lives.
Ars Poetica
by Archibald MacLeish
A poem should be palpable and mute
As a globed fruit,
Dumb
As old medallions to the thumb,
Silent as the sleeve-worn stone
Of casement ledges where the moss has grown –
A poem should be wordless
As the flight of birds.
simile
simile
simile
simile
An implied comparison between two usually unrelated things.Example: Lenny is a snake.
Ginny is a mouse when it comes to standing up for herself.
The difference between a simile and a
metaphor is while a simile requires either “like” or “as” to be
included in the comparison, a
metaphor requires that neither be used.
When it comes to using a metaphor device in poetry, a poet can either make the entire poem a metaphor for something, or put little metaphors throughout the poem.
The following poem is one big metaphor.
Coalhard and cold
buried deep in thedark ground
compressed by fears andtears
Painwith its vice-
gripsholds the lump
in bony fingersuntil
a diamond appears
Metamorphosis of a Heart
The title tells the reader what is being compared
The poet says a heart is a lump of coal that changes into a diamond because of the pain it has gone through in life.
An extremely exaggerated simile.
Example: It is as hot as a volcano in here!
An exaggeration for the sake of emphasis.
Examples: I may sweat to death. The blood bank needs a river
of blood.
The difference between conceit and hyperbole is conceits are similes (they use the words “like” or “as” in them), while hyperboles are not.
A word or image that signifies something other than what is literally represented.Examples: Dark or black images in poems are
often used to symbolize death; Light or white images are often used to symbolize life
Let’s see what this looks like in a poem we are familiar with.
Coalhard and cold
buried deep in thedark ground
compressed by fears andtears
Painwith its vice-grips
holds the lumpin bony fingers
untila diamond
appears
Metamorphosis of a Heart
We already know this is
about a heart
Coal and diamonds are
symbols for the heart
Giving human characteristics to inanimate objects, ideas, or animals.
Example: The sun stretched its lazy fingers over the valley.
Coalhard and cold
buried deep in thedark ground
compressed by fears andtears
Painwith its vice-grips
holds the lumpin bony fingers
untila diamond
appears
Metamorphosis of a Heart
Let’s see what this looks like in a poem we are familiar with.
personification
Using words to create a picture in the reader’s mind.
Painwith its vice-grips
holds the lumpin bony fingers
untila diamond
appears
The image of a bony hand holding the
coal tightly can be seen in the reader’s mind..
That’s it for the meaning devices:
Now how about some practice?
Actually, you don’t really have a choice.