Poetry a genre like no other... Roses are red...

Essential questions What is poetry? How is it different from other forms of literature? What are the elements of poetry?

What is poetry? Like all other writing, poetry is when an author wants to share an idea, a feeling, an experience or a story, and so the author writes it down. We’ve seen authors share these things in other genres such as novel, short story, autobiography, biography and drama (or play).

How is poetry different from other genres? Poetry is a different kind of writing because: it doesn’t have to follow the usual grammar or punctuation rules it doesn’t have sentences put together in a paragraph sometimes the lines rhyme

What are the elements of poetry? Poetry has its own special elements or “parts”. They are: VERSE--(also called stanza). This is how the poem is divided (kind of like its paragraphs) RHYME--poetry often has lines or words that rhyme RHYTHM--(meter) the “music” or “beat” of the poem. You can find the rhythm if you clap while you read the poem. IMAGERY--this is words the author uses to paint a picture in your mind. It can refer to your 5 senses.

Let’s find these elements in a poem How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail, And pour the water of the Nile On every golden scale! How cheerfully he seems to grin, How neatly spreads his claws, And welcomes little fishes in, With gently smiling jaws! VERSE RHYME

To find the Rhythm, read it and clap it How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail, And pour the water of the Nile On every golden scale! How cheerfully he seems to grin, How neatly spreads his claws, And welcomes little fishes in, With gently smiling jaws!

What about the imagery? To find the imagery, think about this question as you read it: “What kind of sensation do the words create for you--a picture, a smell, a taste, a texture, or a temperature?” Now read on and decide... How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail, And pour the water of the Nile On every golden scale! How cheerfully he seems to grin, How neatly spreads his claws, And welcomes little fishes in, With gently smiling jaws!

Let’s Look at another example... It's Dark in Here by Shel Silverstein I am writing these poems From inside a lion, And it's rather dark in here. So please excuse the handwriting Which may not be too clear. But this afternoon by the lion's cage I'm afraid I got too near. And I'm writing these lines From inside a lion, And it's rather dark in here.

Do you see the elements? I am writing these poems From inside a lion, And it's rather dark in here. So please excuse the handwriting Which may not be too clear. But this afternoon by the lion's cage I'm afraid I got too near. And I'm writing these lines From inside a lion, And it's rather dark in here. Verses/stanzas? Only 1 Rhyme? Which lines have this? Rhythm? Let’s read it and clap it Imagery--is it a picture, a smell, a taste, a texture, or a temperature?

closure Do you remember our Essential Questions? You should be able to answer them now... Tell someone what poetry is. Tell your shoulder partner how poetry differs from other genres. Tell your four fingers the elements of poetry.