Poetry TermsPoetry Terms

All the words you will need to All the words you will need to seriously analyze some poetryseriously analyze some poetry

English 9English 9

The Basics – What’s in a PoemThe Basics – What’s in a Poem

PoetryPoetry Writing in verse formWriting in verse form A genre of literature, along with prose and A genre of literature, along with prose and

dramadrama The measured language of emotionThe measured language of emotion Language as artLanguage as art Language in which the form as well as the Language in which the form as well as the

content is intended to receive attentioncontent is intended to receive attention

Considering PoetryConsidering Poetry Think about artThink about art In the realm of visual images, there are In the realm of visual images, there are

some that are only intended to express some that are only intended to express content.content.

Writing Equivalent – Product manual, Writing Equivalent – Product manual, newspaper articlenewspaper article

Considering PoetryConsidering Poetry

Next, there are images that are meant to Next, there are images that are meant to contain some sort of visual appeal, but contain some sort of visual appeal, but they are still primarily focused on is being they are still primarily focused on is being depicted.depicted.

Writing Equivalent – Blogs, news columns, Writing Equivalent – Blogs, news columns, creative nonfiction, some fictioncreative nonfiction, some fiction

Considering PoetryConsidering Poetry

Then we arrive at what is classically Then we arrive at what is classically referred to as art, yet it’s the type of art referred to as art, yet it’s the type of art that everyone can understand, if not that everyone can understand, if not appreciateappreciate

Writing Equivalent – Some fiction, Writing Equivalent – Some fiction, narrative poetrynarrative poetry

Considering PoetryConsidering Poetry

Finally, you arrive at abstract art – art that Finally, you arrive at abstract art – art that is all about expression, not about is all about expression, not about informationinformation

Writing Equivalent – Lyric poetry, Writing Equivalent – Lyric poetry, experimental proseexperimental prose

One more thought…One more thought… Using math to define poetry…Using math to define poetry…

Exp

ress

ion

and

Cre

ativ

ity

Content and Information

Poetry, Creative writing

Fiction,Creative

Nonfiction,Narrative

Poetry

News, Instructional, Informational

writing

Technical writing

The Basics – What’s in a PoemThe Basics – What’s in a Poem

LineLine A poetry sentence – the words that are on the A poetry sentence – the words that are on the

same horizontal line in a poemsame horizontal line in a poem StanzaStanza

A group of lines separated from other groups A group of lines separated from other groups of lines by a spaceof lines by a space

How a Poem Does Its Job – How a Poem Does Its Job – Poetic DevicesPoetic Devices

RhythmRhythm The pattern of stressed and unstressed The pattern of stressed and unstressed

syllables in a poemsyllables in a poem The “sound” of a poemThe “sound” of a poem Meter – The arrangement of stressed Meter – The arrangement of stressed

syllables in a poemsyllables in a poem• What light / through yon- / der win- / dow breaksWhat light / through yon- / der win- / dow breaks

How a Poem Does Its Job – How a Poem Does Its Job – Poetic DevicesPoetic Devices

RhymeRhyme When the end or ending syllables of a word When the end or ending syllables of a word

make the same soundmake the same sound Perfect RhymePerfect Rhyme

• When the exact same noise is repeatedWhen the exact same noise is repeated• Dog / fog, mister / blisterDog / fog, mister / blister

Imperfect RhymeImperfect Rhyme• When the sound repeated is “pretty close” to the When the sound repeated is “pretty close” to the

original soundoriginal sound• Around / down, later / fakerAround / down, later / faker

How a Poem Does Its Job – How a Poem Does Its Job – Poetic DevicesPoetic Devices

Rhyme, continuedRhyme, continued Rhyme Scheme – mapping out the rhyme in a Rhyme Scheme – mapping out the rhyme in a

poempoem The first end sound gets the letter A, the The first end sound gets the letter A, the

second gets Bsecond gets B I want to buy a carI want to buy a car I just don’t have the moneyI just don’t have the money I have to walk so farI have to walk so far It’s just not even funnyIt’s just not even funny ABABABAB

How a Poem Does Its Job – How a Poem Does Its Job – Poetic DevicesPoetic Devices

ConsonanceConsonance The repeating of consonant soundsThe repeating of consonant sounds

• I ran down the main avenueI ran down the main avenue

AssonanceAssonance The repeating of vowel soundsThe repeating of vowel sounds

• She eats peas and beansShe eats peas and beans

AlliterationAlliteration The repeating of sounds at the beginnings of The repeating of sounds at the beginnings of

wordswords• She showed the shy sheepShe showed the shy sheep

How a Poem Does Its Job – How a Poem Does Its Job – Poetic DevicesPoetic Devices

MetaphorMetaphor To compare two things by saying one is the To compare two things by saying one is the

otherother• He is a brick wall. She is a dictionaryHe is a brick wall. She is a dictionary

SimileSimile To compare two things using the words “like” To compare two things using the words “like”

or “as”or “as”• He can eat like a horse. He can eat like a horse. • My Love is like a red, red rose.My Love is like a red, red rose.

How a Poem Does Its Job – How a Poem Does Its Job – Poetic DevicesPoetic Devices

PersonificationPersonification To give a non-human thing human To give a non-human thing human

characteristics.characteristics.• The paper stared back at me.The paper stared back at me.• My car groaned in pain.My car groaned in pain.

HyperboleHyperbole To exaggerate somethingTo exaggerate something

• I could sleep for a monthI could sleep for a month• He cried until he had no more tears.He cried until he had no more tears.

One More Poetic DeviceOne More Poetic Device

AllusionAllusion When a poem refers to another story that When a poem refers to another story that

everyone “should” knoweveryone “should” know• He was breathing like Darth VaderHe was breathing like Darth Vader• She held up her trophy like it was Simba on Pride She held up her trophy like it was Simba on Pride

RockRock

Types of PoetryTypes of Poetry

NarrativeNarrative Poetry that tells a story or describes something that Poetry that tells a story or describes something that

happenshappens LyricLyric

Poetry that expresses feelings or ideasPoetry that expresses feelings or ideas EpicEpic

Long poems that tell big, important, exciting, action-Long poems that tell big, important, exciting, action-packed storiespacked stories

Poetic Forms – There are tonsPoetic Forms – There are tons Haiku, sonnet, ode, elegy, epitaph, sestina, cinquain, Haiku, sonnet, ode, elegy, epitaph, sestina, cinquain,

limerick, villanelle, tanka, etc.limerick, villanelle, tanka, etc.

Poetry’s Most Important PartPoetry’s Most Important PartIf you remember nothing else, remember thisIf you remember nothing else, remember this

ImageryImagery Most poems try to create specific pictures Most poems try to create specific pictures

through words – what does this poem “show” through words – what does this poem “show” you?you?

Imagery is accomplished through sensory Imagery is accomplished through sensory language – what words appeal to your five language – what words appeal to your five senses?senses?

Poetry tries to express an idea – imagery is Poetry tries to express an idea – imagery is how it does that expressinghow it does that expressing

Analyzing PoetryAnalyzing Poetry

Close Reading – Careful, sustained Close Reading – Careful, sustained interpretation of a brief passage of textinterpretation of a brief passage of text Try to notice and explain every possible Try to notice and explain every possible

technique, analysis, interpretation, technique, analysis, interpretation, connection, diction, syntax, and anything else connection, diction, syntax, and anything else that can be said about the poemthat can be said about the poem

A full close reading of a one-hundred line A full close reading of a one-hundred line poem could be thousands and thousands of poem could be thousands and thousands of words longwords long

Analyzing PoetryAnalyzing Poetry

TPCASTTTPCASTT Title – What’s the title about?Title – What’s the title about? Paraphrase – What is the poem’s literal Paraphrase – What is the poem’s literal

meaning?meaning? Connotation – Implied meaning – think diction, Connotation – Implied meaning – think diction,

syntax, imagerysyntax, imagery Attitude – Tone, moodAttitude – Tone, mood Shift – Shifts in tone, mood, structureShift – Shifts in tone, mood, structure Title – What’s the title about now that you Title – What’s the title about now that you

analyzed the poem?analyzed the poem? ThemeTheme