POETRY Elements of Poetry

Sound Devices Rhyme Rhythm Repetition Alliteration Onomatopoeia

RHYME Rhyme is the repetition of sounds at the ends of words, such as –drink & stink –world & hurled it makes poetry fun to read and write.

Rhythm Rhythm is the beat created by the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables: the cat sat on the mat.

Example of Rhythm Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and of all the king’s horses and all of the King’s men couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again.

Practice your rhythm Clankity Clankity Clankity Clank! Ankylosaurus was built like a tank, Its hide was a fortress as sturdy as steel, It tended to be an inedible meal. It was armored in front, it was armored behind, There wasn’t a thing on its minuscule mind, It waddled about on its four stubby legs, Nibbling on plants with a mouthful of pegs. Ankylosaurus was best left alone, Its tail was a cudgel of gristle and bone, Clankity Clankity Clankity Clank! Ankylosaurus was built like a tank. By: Jack Prelutsky

More Rhythm Practice Iguanodon, Whatever made you fade, You’ve traveled on, Iguanodon, We wish you could have stayed. Iguanodon, We’ve sought you everywhere, Both here and yon, Iguanodon, But failed to find you there. Iguanodon, You were a gentle kind, But now you’re gone, Iguanodon, And left your bones behind

Repetition Repetition is used to make an impact on the poem’s tone. Words or phrases are repeated throughout the poem. Here comes summer, Chirping robin, budding rose. Here comes summer, Gentle showers, summer clothes. By Shel Silverstein

Alliteration Alliteration uses the same beginning word sounds over and over, like a tongue twister. They are written for the fun they bring when they are read. My beautiful bubbles burst and then, I simply blow some more again. The setting sun slipped slowly down, Making room for the milky moon.

An Alliteration Poem A fly and a flea flew up in a flue. Said the fly to the flea, “What shall we do?” “Let’s fly,” said the flea. “Let’s flee,” said the fly. So they fluttered and flew up a flaw in the flue

Another Alliteration Poem Down the slippery slide they slid Sitting slightly sideways; Slipping swiftly see them skid On holidays and Fridays

A tongue twister “Night, night, Knight”, said one Knight to the other knight the other night. “Night, night, Knight.”

A Super Tongue Twister Esau Wood sawed wood. Esau Wood would saw wood. Oh, the wood that Wood would saw! One day Esau Wood saw a saw saw wood as no other woodsaw Wood ever saw would saw wood. Of all the woodsaws Wood ever saw saw wood, Wood never saw a woodsaw that would saw wood like the woodsaw Wood saw would saw wood. Now Esau Wood saws with that saw he saw saw wood.

Onomatopoeia Onomatopoeia is the use of words that imitate sounds: crash bang hiss splat

Figurative Language Figurative language is writing or speech tht is not meant to be taken literally. The many types of figurative language are called figures of speech. Figures of speech are used to stte ideas in a vivid and imaginative way –Metaphors –Similes –personification

Simile and Metaphor Similes are comparisons that use “like” or “as.” Her eyes are as green as emeralds. Clouds soft and fluffy like marshmallows. Metaphors are comparisons that say one thing is another. My father’s anger is a volcano about to blow.

Personification Personification gives human qualities to something that is nonhuman: –The ocean crashed angrily during the storm.

Sensory Language Sensory language is writing or speech that appeals to one or more of the five senses— sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. creates word pictures or images.This language creates word pictures or images. Poets often use these word pictures to help the reader experience a poem fully

Forms of Poetry Narrative Lyric Form Poems –Concrete –Haiku –Limerick –Diamante

Narrative Narrative poetry tells a story in verse. Narrative poems often have similar elements to a short story, such as plot and characters. See “Oranges” by Gary Soto in your book page /Readers Notebook This is the mostly non-fictional recollection of a twelve year old boy who sets out from his home and walks over to a young girl’s house. While you read, notice sensory language and similes

Oranges The first time I walked With a girl, I was twelve, Cold, and weighted down With two oranges in my jacket. December. Frost cracking Beneath my steps, my breath Before me, then gone, As I walked toward Her house, the one whose Porch light burned yellow Night and day, in any weather.

Oranges continued A dog barked at me, until She came out pulling At her gloves, face bright With rouge. I smiled, Touched her shoulder, and led Her down the street, across A used car lot and a line Of newly planted trees, Until we were breathing Before a drugstore. We Entered, the tiny bell Bringing a saleslady Down a narrow aisle of goods.

Oranges continued I turned to the candies Tiered like bleachers, And asked what she wanted - Light in her eyes, a smile Starting at the corners Of her mouth. I fingered A nickel in my pocket, And when she lifted a chocolate That cost a dime, I didn't say anything. I took the nickel from My pocket, then an orange, And set them quietly on The counter. When I looked up, The lady's eyes met mine, And held them, knowing Very well what it was all About.

Oranges continued Outside, A few cars hissing past, Fog hanging like old Coats between the trees. I took my girl's hand In mine for two blocks, Then released it to let Her unwrap the chocolate. I peeled my orange That was so bright against The gray of December That, from some distance, Someone might have thought I was making a fire in my hands.

Lyric Lyric poetry expresses the thoughts and feelings of a single speaker, often ain highly musical verse. Check out Gary Soto’s Ode to Family Photographs– which is a playful comment about all the horrible photographs parents and relatives take.

Concrete Poems Concrete poems are shaped to look like their subjects. The poet arranges the lines to create a picture on the page.

Concrete poem

Haiku Haiku is a three-line Japanese verse form. The first and the third lines each have five syllables and the second line has seven. It is usually written about nature. Most cannot see it. It’s intertwined and complex. A beauty in dew.

Limerick A humorous, rhyming, five-line poem with a specific rhythm pattern and rhyme scheme. Formula: The rhyme pattern is a a b b a with lines 1, 2, and 5 containing 3 beats and rhyming, and lines 3 and 4 having two beats and rhyming.

Limerick Example: Formula: The rhyme pattern is a a b b a with lines 1, 2, and 5 containing 3 beats and rhyming, lines 3 and 4 having two beats and rhyming 1. A flea and a fly in a flue— a/3 beats rhyme 2. Were caught, so what could they do?- a/3beats rhyme 3. Said the fly, “Let us flee.”- b/2 beats rhyme 4. “Let us fly,” said the flea.- b/2 beats rhyme 5. So they flew through a flaw in the flue.- a/3 beats rhyme

Limerick Practice Which words fit in the blanks? There once was a pauper named Meg Who accidentally broke her______. She slipped on the _____. Not once, but thrice Take no pity on her, I _______.

Diamante’ Poem Formula Line 1: one word, subject of poem Line 2: two words, adjectives describing subject Line 3: three words, participles (-ing verbs) Line 4: four words related to subject (For lines 5-7, describe opposite/antonym of subject) Line 5: three words, participles (-ing verbs) Line 6: two words, adjectives describing opposite of subject Line 7: one word, opposite/antonym of subject in Line 1

Free Verse Free verse is poetry that has neither a particular beat or rhyme pattern. It usually does have rhythm, however.