Introduction to Poetry Form, Speaker, Sound, Imagery & Figurative Language

What is Poetry? Poetry- is a kind of fiction writing which is compact, imaginative, and rhythmic. is written with words chosen for their sounds, feelings, and ideas.

Elements of Poetry Elements poets use add to the poem’s sound, meaning, and emotional affect on the reader. Some of the elements poets use are: Free Verse Rhyme and Rhyme Scheme Stanza Tone and Voice Mood Simile Metaphor Alliteration Onomatopoeia Personification

Free Verse Example: I never dreamt that tender blossoms would be dead - type of poem without use of rhyme or regular patterns. Example: I never dreamt that tender blossoms would be dead Or precious angels could come down to live in the garden of my giving heart, But here you are brown angel!

Rhyme and Rhyme Scheme Rhyme- repetition of similar sounds at the ends of words Rhyme scheme- a pattern of rhymes in a poem The following short poem illustrates the labeling of a rhyme scheme.                   There once was a big brown cat      a                   That liked to eat a lot of mice.        b                   He got all round and fat                 a                   Because they tasted so nice.          b

Form Form- the way a poem looks on a page Stanzas are groups of lines; two line stanzas are called couplets. Poets use stanzas to give their poems structure and to emphasize different ideas.

“First and Last” by: David McCord A tadpole hasn’t a pole at all, And he doesn’t live in a hole in the wall. You’ve got it wrong; a polecat’s not A cat on a pole. And I’ll tell you what, A bullfrog’s never a bull; and, how Could a cowbird possibly be a cow? A kingbird, though, is a kind of king, And he chases a crow like anything. There are four stanzas in this poem. These two-line stanzas are called couplets.

Tone and Voice A poet’s attitude toward the subject of the poem is called the poem’s tone. The speaker of a poem is the voice that relates the story or ideas of the poem.

Mood Poetry touches your emotions. The mood creates a feeling in the reader. The length of the sentences, the words chosen, and the sounds of the words all work to create the mood of a poem.

What is the mood of this poem? Spring Garden Stunningly dressed flower stalks Stand shimmering in the breeze. The cheerful sun hides playfully Behind white, fluffy, cotton-ball clouds, While trees whisper secrets To their rustling leaves. Carpets of grass greenly glow, Blending joyfully with the day. Spring brings life to death.

Figurative Language Figurative language- chosen words and phrases that help readers picture ordinary things in new ways. Some examples of figurative language are: Similes Metaphors Alliteration Onomatopoeia Personification

Simile A poet uses the words like or as to compare two things in a simile. For example: The baby was as cute as a button. The rain falls like the sun, rising upon the mountains.

Metaphor A metaphor is a direct comparison between two things. It does not use the words like or as. It states that one thing is another. Example: Life is a game.

Alliteration Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words in a sentence or a line of poetry. Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?

Onomatopoeia Poets not only choose words for what they mean, but also for how they sound. Onomatopoeia is the use of words that sound like the noises they make. For example, CRASH! BANG! ZOOM! BUZZ!

Personification Poets often create strong images by making nonhuman things seem human. Personification is a type of figure of speech that gives human qualities to animals, objects or ideas. Example: The flowers begged for water. The wind screamed as it raced around the tree. Lightning danced across the sky.