What is poetry? A guide for Literature students: how to read and write about poetry A guide for Literature students: how to read and write about poetry

A poet’s definition  Remember Langston Hughes said:  “What is poetry? It is the human soul, squeezed like a lemon or lime, drop by drop, into atomic words.”  Remember Langston Hughes said:  “What is poetry? It is the human soul, squeezed like a lemon or lime, drop by drop, into atomic words.”

Definition of poetry  Poetry is condensed (shortened, compact) figurative language that says something critical or important  Comes from oral/musical tradition. Meant to be read aloud  Language that feels good to the ear  Poetry is condensed (shortened, compact) figurative language that says something critical or important  Comes from oral/musical tradition. Meant to be read aloud  Language that feels good to the ear

Review: figurative language  Language expanded beyond literal meaning; compares unlike things  Examples are metaphor and simile  Metaphor = comparison between unlike things = “my heart was a sinking rock”  Simile = unlike things are compared using like or as - “hair as soft as grass”  Language expanded beyond literal meaning; compares unlike things  Examples are metaphor and simile  Metaphor = comparison between unlike things = “my heart was a sinking rock”  Simile = unlike things are compared using like or as - “hair as soft as grass”

The three Rs of poetry  Rhythm = the arrangement of sounds (stressed/unstressed syllables) in writing  Rhyme = a word that has the same sound (ending or middle) as another Joy/boy Trot/sod or walk/milk (slant rhyme)  Repetition = a repeated pattern of sounds, words or phrases in a poem -- for emphasis  Rhythm = the arrangement of sounds (stressed/unstressed syllables) in writing  Rhyme = a word that has the same sound (ending or middle) as another Joy/boy Trot/sod or walk/milk (slant rhyme)  Repetition = a repeated pattern of sounds, words or phrases in a poem -- for emphasis

Two kinds of sound repetition  Alliteration = the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words “I have s tood s till and s topped the s ound of feet.” Robert Frost  Assonance = the repetition of vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds  “Str i ps of t i nfoil w i nking l i ke people…” Sylvia Plath  Alliteration = the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words “I have s tood s till and s topped the s ound of feet.” Robert Frost  Assonance = the repetition of vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds  “Str i ps of t i nfoil w i nking l i ke people…” Sylvia Plath

A few more poetry terms  Imagery = words that appeal to the senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing) when describing something  Personification = giving human traits to a non-human subject. The wind sighed through the trees.  Imagery = words that appeal to the senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing) when describing something  Personification = giving human traits to a non-human subject. The wind sighed through the trees.

Types of rhyme in poetry  End rhyme - rhyme that happens at the end of lines of poetry like in couplets  Internal rhyme - when words rhyme inside a line of poetry, not at end.  Slant rhyme = two words share a consonant or vowel sound hea rt /po rt /cha rt = Emily Dickinson  End rhyme - rhyme that happens at the end of lines of poetry like in couplets  Internal rhyme - when words rhyme inside a line of poetry, not at end.  Slant rhyme = two words share a consonant or vowel sound hea rt /po rt /cha rt = Emily Dickinson

Review of Shakespeare’s poetry  Iambic pentameter = 10 syllable/line(5 iambs = stressed/unstressed pairs)  “For saints have hands that pilgrim’s hands do touch.”  Sonnet = poetic form of 14 lines w/every other line end rhyming + couplet at end  Couple t = Two lines of verse, usually in the same meter and joined by rhyme, forming a unit.  Iambic pentameter = 10 syllable/line(5 iambs = stressed/unstressed pairs)  “For saints have hands that pilgrim’s hands do touch.”  Sonnet = poetic form of 14 lines w/every other line end rhyming + couplet at end  Couple t = Two lines of verse, usually in the same meter and joined by rhyme, forming a unit.

Format of poetry  Stanza = Paragraph of poetry or lines that go together in terms of ideas/content (Italian for “room”)  Line = One line of poetry on page. Rule of thumb = a line is one breath. Also, based on content -- what ideas go together.  ** Free verse = a style of poetry that does not adhere to a specific rhythm or rhyme pattern  Stanza = Paragraph of poetry or lines that go together in terms of ideas/content (Italian for “room”)  Line = One line of poetry on page. Rule of thumb = a line is one breath. Also, based on content -- what ideas go together.  ** Free verse = a style of poetry that does not adhere to a specific rhythm or rhyme pattern

How to critique or understand poetry: What is it about?  Use clues from poet about what poem is about. What kinds of words are used, what images, setting, etc?  What does the poem make you think of ?  Use examples of words, phrases from poem to say, “I think the poem is about freedom because of the bird flying away in the second stanza/third line.” Provide quote, too.  Use clues from poet about what poem is about. What kinds of words are used, what images, setting, etc?  What does the poem make you think of ?  Use examples of words, phrases from poem to say, “I think the poem is about freedom because of the bird flying away in the second stanza/third line.” Provide quote, too.

How does the poet write the poem -- form  Describe the poem. Are there stanzas, lines of a certain length, and if so, are they the same throughout?  Use the 3 Rs of poetry. Is there a certain rhythm, any rhyme, any repetition ? Give examples of these.  Describe the poem. Are there stanzas, lines of a certain length, and if so, are they the same throughout?  Use the 3 Rs of poetry. Is there a certain rhythm, any rhyme, any repetition ? Give examples of these.

How does the poet write the poem -- technique  How does the poet use figurative language ? Can you find metaphors, or similes ? Tell what the examples are, and where.  Can you find examples of imagery ?  Explain other poetic techniques if you find them such as personification, alliteration, and assonance.  How does the poet use figurative language ? Can you find metaphors, or similes ? Tell what the examples are, and where.  Can you find examples of imagery ?  Explain other poetic techniques if you find them such as personification, alliteration, and assonance.

Why does poet write poem?  You can also comment on why you think the poet wrote the poem. Why is the topic important? Any clues ?  Look for big themes -- growing up, growing old, falling in love, leaving home, war, fear of dying…Where are the clues ( words, phrases) to prove?  You can also comment on why you think the poet wrote the poem. Why is the topic important? Any clues ?  Look for big themes -- growing up, growing old, falling in love, leaving home, war, fear of dying…Where are the clues ( words, phrases) to prove?

Practice critiquing poems!  Write about how the poet wrote the poem  Then, comment on wha t the poem might be about  Finally, write about why you think the poet wrote the poem. Use examples!  Write about how the poet wrote the poem  Then, comment on wha t the poem might be about  Finally, write about why you think the poet wrote the poem. Use examples!

Pick a poem to write about  Harlem 2 by Langston Hughes  We Real Cool by Gwendolyn Brooks  # 269 (Wild Nights ) by Emily Dickinson  Harlem 2 by Langston Hughes  We Real Cool by Gwendolyn Brooks  # 269 (Wild Nights ) by Emily Dickinson

Quick facts about Emily Dickinson  Born in Amherst, MA in Died in 1885 in house she grew up in. Lived w/ sister/brother. Simple/secluded life.  Never published poems in her lifetime  Read widely, wrote letters, did not travel much. Strong religious background.  Only went to one year of college  Born in Amherst, MA in Died in 1885 in house she grew up in. Lived w/ sister/brother. Simple/secluded life.  Never published poems in her lifetime  Read widely, wrote letters, did not travel much. Strong religious background.  Only went to one year of college

What is Dickinson known for?  Innovator, wrote poems with brief phrases questioning life and death  Regarded as one of America’s greatest poets. Wrote over 1800 poems  Known for her use of the dash, and slant rhymes, and numbers for titles of poems.  Innovator, wrote poems with brief phrases questioning life and death  Regarded as one of America’s greatest poets. Wrote over 1800 poems  Known for her use of the dash, and slant rhymes, and numbers for titles of poems.