How to Read Poetry Language Arts 8 Notes

What is Poetry? Literature in verse either rhymed or unrhymed. It is intended to be read aloud for its greatest effect.

What is the language of poetry? The language of poetry appeals to the senses and is grouped under figurative language or figures of speech.

Absolute Rule #1 Do not read line by line! Read sentence by sentence. Pay close attention to the punctuation!!!

Absolute Rule #2 Words are often out of their normal word order – just as in song lyrics If a sentence is puzzling, look for the subject and verb and put it in order.

Absolute Rule #3 Don’t let single words trip you up! Don’t move on to the next sentence until you know what each word/line means!

Poetry Terms to Know: The Basics of Poetry – All lines begin with a capital letter. Any and all punctuation becomes extremely important in all lines. Poems are often organized into stanzas. Stanza – AKA: Verse – A paragraph in poetry. In rhyming poetry, it is grouped by the rhyme pattern.

Poetry Terms to know… End-stopped Lines – lines have end punctuation. Emphasis should be placed on this punctuation. Run-on Lines – There is no punctuation at the end of the lines. The reader should not stop, but go on to the next line. Free Verse – Often does not follow poetry basics. There is no rhyme pattern, but often an internal rhyme.

Poetry terms to know… Rhyme – a repitition of identical or similar sounds in two or more different words. Most often used in poetry. Repetition – the repeating of words, phrases, or letters.

Figurative Language Also known as poetic devices, figures of speech, literary devices and literary elements. **The use of words, phrases, symbols, and ideas to create mental images and sense impressions.

Imagery Words/phrases that appeal to the five senses. Example: The rich, thick chocolate fudge oozed down the sides of the vanilla ice cream.

Simile A comparison of two things using “like” or “as”. Example: The pillow was as soft as a cloud.

Metaphor A comparison of two things without using “like” or “as”. Example: The pillow was a cloud.

Alliteration Words that begin with the same CONSONANT sounds. Example: tongue twisters – “Sally sells seashells by the seashore”.

Onomatopoeia The use of words whose sounds suggest their meanings. Example: Bang! Snap! Buzz! Yeow!

Personification Giving human characteristics to an inanimate object. Example: The dog danced and swayed to the music.

Analogy A likeness or similarity between things that are otherwise unalike. Example: Similar to wolves circling their prey, the journalists swarmed Justin Bieber.

Idiom An expression not meant to be taken literally. Example: break a date; get lost; make the bed

Oxymoron A figure of speech containing two seemingly contradictory expressions. Example: jumbo shrimp, pretty ugly

Hyperbole A huge exaggeration Example: I am so hungry I could eat a horse! I told you that a million times already!

Metonymy One word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated. Substituting the name of an attribute or feature for the name of the thing itself. Example: The Oval Office sent in the troops. The suits walked into the office.

Synecdoche One word that stands for a larger item or body of things (directly connected); a part to a whole. Example: All ears and eyes on me! All hands on deck!!

Assonance Repetition of the same VOWEL sound Example: Poetry is so old that nobody knows how the first poem goes.

Now you try!! Find a partner for writing your own examples! Simile Alliteration Personification metaphor