Poetry is the best words in the best order. Poetry: How to analyze it and understand it. Mrs. Wyatt’s English 9 - Literature Notes Samuel Taylor Coleridge First – look at the shell comparison. Handout for notebooks.

Our Poetry Study Textbook Table of Contents Textbook Table of Contents –Reading strategies –Elements of literature –Collections Notes in class Notes in class Work daily and discussion Work daily and discussion Tests and quizzes Tests and quizzes

Poetry can be abstract or concrete It can be about feelings like love, hate, fear, sadness, etc. It can be about feelings like love, hate, fear, sadness, etc. –Abstract means it can not be held or owned, but felt –Emotions are expressed Poetry can also be about concrete, or real images, things, or events Poetry can also be about concrete, or real images, things, or events –A poem about a real friend –A poem about a real family event, as remembered

Poetry can be... Ballad Ballad –A short story told in verse –Usually tragic and has a refrain The repetition of words or phrases, usually at the end of a line of poetry. The repetition of words or phrases, usually at the end of a line of poetry. This is purposeful and effective, like a chorus This is purposeful and effective, like a chorus Connotation – words used to arouse feelings or meanings different or more creatively than a strict dictionary definition. Connotation – words used to arouse feelings or meanings different or more creatively than a strict dictionary definition. Denotation – a literal, dictionary-definition explanation. Denotation – a literal, dictionary-definition explanation.

Imagery – the power of poetry An image is part of imagery An image is part of imagery –Influenced by a poet’s life and time, surroundings, views and visions, etc... Feelings are part of imagery Feelings are part of imagery –In poetry (songs, too), imagery makes you feel the same feelings and emotions. Poetry uses imagery to notice the small parts of life. Poetry uses imagery to notice the small parts of life. –What do the scenes feel like? Why? –Scenes, people, descriptions, all are imagery. In your book, turn to page 492

Structure of Poetry – Length and Rhyme A couplet is a 2-lined stanza A couplet is a 2-lined stanza A quatrain a 4-lined stanza A quatrain is a 4-lined stanza –A quatrain is a 4-lined poem or part of a poem that is in a pattern. You can call it a stanza. Poems can be any length, any pattern. Poems can be any length, any pattern. –This is a 4-line stanza: Fireflies glitter in random flicks Darting about, seeming to stray Lighting the night with starry wicks Flying off at the light of day.

Rhyme – the purposeful pattern of matching word sounds so that a poem has a musical quality. Any poem can rhyme, but doesn’t have to rhyme. Any poem can rhyme, but doesn’t have to rhyme. If it does rhyme, it will usually have a rhyme pattern or scheme. If it does rhyme, it will usually have a rhyme pattern or scheme. Fireflies glitter in random flicks (A) Darting about, seeming to stray(B) Lighting the night with starry wicks (A) Flying off at the light of day.(B) There will be more specific notes on rhythm and rhyme later...

What is the rhyme scheme of this poem? Row row row your boat Gently down the stream Merrily merrily merrily merrily Life is but a dream.

What is the rhyme scheme of this poem? Row row row your boat (A) Gently down the stream (B) Merrily merrily merrily merrily (C) Life is but a dream. (B)

Rhyme, continued Sound Devices in Poetry Sound devices are used to create actual sounds in the poem, or different rhyme patterns inside the lines. Sound devices are used to create actual sounds in the poem, or different rhyme patterns inside the lines. This rhythmic sound makes the verse (also as in music) more memorable. This rhythmic sound makes the verse (also as in music) more memorable. –Alliteration is the repeating of sounds at the beginning of a series of words. The silver shimmering sounds of silence Sound sweetly like the strum of angels’ strings.

Sound Devices in Poetry More figurative language –Assonance is the repetition in a line of poetry of vowel sounds but not consonant sounds …from the jingling and the tinkling of the bells …from the jingling and the tinkling of the bells …in the icy air of night’s delight …in the icy air of night’s delight –Consonance is the repetition in poetry of consonant sounds, but not vowels Lady lounges lazily, languid Lady lounges lazily, languid Does it dry up like a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a dream deferred?

Sound Devices in Poetry –Onomatopoeia : The formation of a word that imitates the sound associated with its object or action. Examples: splash, whoosh, swoop, gush, kerplunk Examples: splash, whoosh, swoop, gush, kerplunk –Onomatopoeia can be the use of just the word, or a line that creates the idea of a sound: The moan of doves in immemorial elms, And murmuring of innumerable bees.

Figurative Language Figurative language is speaking creatively or figuratively. It is a tool that an author or poet uses to help the reader visualize (or see) what is happening in a story or poem. Figurative language is speaking creatively or figuratively. It is a tool that an author or poet uses to help the reader visualize (or see) what is happening in a story or poem. Think of it as the opposite of literal, or exact and precise language. Think of it as the opposite of literal, or exact and precise language. Some common types of figurative language are: simile, metaphor, alliteration, onomatopoeia, sensory language. Some common types of figurative language are: simile, metaphor, alliteration, onomatopoeia, sensory language.

Simile – Simile – compares using like or as A simile is a comparison using like or as. It usually compares two very different objects. A simile is a comparison using like or as. It usually compares two very different objects. For example: For example: His feet were as big as boats. We are comparing the size of feet to boats.

Metaphor – Metaphor – compares without using like or as A metaphor states that one thing is something else. It is a comparison, but it does NOT use like or as to make the comparison. A metaphor states that one thing is something else. It is a comparison, but it does NOT use like or as to make the comparison. For example: For example: Her hair is silk. The sentence is comparing (or stating) that hair is silk.

Tone and Mood Mood is a way to describe the atmosphere to a reader. Mood is a way to describe the atmosphere to a reader. –A writer creates MOOD by using a certain TONE. Tone is the attitude a writer takes toward his or her subject, characters, and readers. Tone is the attitude a writer takes toward his or her subject, characters, and readers. –Tone can shock, anger, please, or sadden a reader…anything you can feel is tone.

Langston Hughes’ “Dream Deferred” What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?

Discuss “Dream Deferred” What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? Ask yourself: Does this poem mainly tell a story or does it mainly express an idea or feeling? Does this poem mainly tell a story or does it mainly express an idea or feeling? What is the atmosphere or feeling within the poem? What details create that feeling? What is the atmosphere or feeling within the poem? What details create that feeling?

Dream Variations Langston Hughes To fling my arms wide In some place of the sun, To whirl and to dance Till the white day is done. Then rest at cool evening Beneath a tall tree While night comes on gently, Dark like me– That is my dream! To fling my arms wide In the face of the sun, Dance! Whirl! Whirl! Till the quick day is done. Rest at pale evening... A tall, slim tree... Night coming tenderly Black like me. Notice the four-lined quatrain stanzas. Each is divided by the end of a sentence, except for the small sentence in the middle of the poem. What is the rhyme scheme? What is the mood? Who is the speaker? What is he speaking about in the poem? Answer these questions on a half sheet of paper and turn it in today before you leave.