1. The STRUCTURE of Writing Why Structure Matters By Jennifer Flanagan 7 th grade Language Arts Hanes Middle Magnet School

2. The STRUCTURE of Writing (5 minutes – elbow partner!):  What do you know about the structure of writing?  Do you have any knowledge about William Shakespeare and the structure of his writing?  What do you think the purpose of writing structure is?  What things limit your ability to understand a poem?

3. POETIC STRUCTURE  Poetic structure is often confused with poetic FORM (sonnet, cinquain, lyric, etc. – all of those forms you learned about in sixth grade). Let’s take a moment to reflect upon the FORMS of poetry now.

4. You probably came up with the following poetic FORMS:  Limerick  Acrostic  Cinquain  Diamante  Haiku  Ballad  Sonnet  Lyric  Free Verse  Narrative

5. POETIC STRUCTURE  Poetic STRUCTURE is the pattern of a poem’s “turning.” What tools does the author use to bring the poem from its beginning to its end? What does the author use to help get his message across? Brainstorm some “tools” with a partner.

6. You may have come up with:  FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: The use of words that go beyond their ordinary meaning. Examples include: similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, idioms, apostrophe, etc.  SOUND DEVICES: Tools the author uses to develop a rhythm in poetry. Examples include: alliteration, assonance, consonance, and repetition. **ALL of these things are author’s CHOICES that define the STRUCTURE of his/her writing.**

7. So…let’s talk SHAKESPEARE. How does Shakespeare use poetic STRUCTURE and poetic FORM to enhance his writing?

8. Poetic Structure Vocabulary (QUIZ FRIDAY!):  Meter: Generally regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry  Foot: a metric "foot" refers to the combination of a strong stress and the associated weak stress (or stresses) that make up the recurrent metric unit of a line of verse. *If you’re confused, the next slide should clarify things !

9. Vocabulary (continued):  Iambic pentameter:  Shakespeare writes most of his plays and sonnets using iambic pentameter  Each line consists of ten syllables.  The syllables are divided into five pairs called iambs (or iambic feet).  An iamb is a metrical unit made up of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable. Ex: good BYE.  A line of iambic pentameter flows like this: baBOOM / baBOOM / baBOOM / baBOOM /baBOOM.

10. Why Iambic Pentameter? If you listen closely, iambic pentameter resembles a human heartbeat. Many experts say Shakespeare thought the rhythm helped the audience CONNECT to his writing. Click HERE to view a video about the structure of a Shakespearean (Elizabethan) sonnet.HERE

11. Vocabulary (continued) Here are some examples of IAMBIC PENTAMETER from the Shakespearean sonnets:  When I / do COUNT / the CLOCK / that TELLS / the TIME (Sonnet 12)  When IN / dis GRACE / with FOR / tune AND / men’s EYES I ALL / a LONE / be WEEP / my OUT/ cast STATE (Sonnet 29)  Shall I / com PARE/ thee TO / a SUM / mer’s DAY? Thou ART / more LOVE / ly AND / more TEM / per ATE (Sonnet 18) Click HERE to HEAR how iambic pentameter sounds when read.HERE

12. Poetry Reading  What did you notice about the reading?  When you read poetry aloud, where do you pause your voice? Does this impact your understanding of poetry?

13. The Shakespearean (Elizabethan) Sonnet:  Sonnet Structure  Fourteen lines in a Shakespearean sonnet.  The first twelve lines are divided into three quatrains with four lines each. In the three quatrains the poet establishes a theme or problem.  Resolves problem in the final couplet.  The rhyme scheme of the quatrains is abab cdcd efef.  The couplet has the rhyme scheme gg.

14. Vocabulary (continued):  Troche: The opposite of Iambic Pentameter. The FIRST syllable is stressed in a trochaic rhythm.  DA dum/DA dum/DA dum/DA dum  Ex: “DOUble/DOUble/TOILand/TROUble; Fire/BURN and/CAULdron/BUBble.” (Macbeth IV.i.10-11)

15. Vocabulary check for understanding: “Two households both alike in dignity In fair Verona where we lay our scene.”  What kind of METER is present in these lines?  How do you know?  Give me two words that make up a “foot” of poetry.  What kind of “foot” is this?  Why do you think it’s called “iambic PENTAMETER”?

16. Let’s apply what we’ve learned….  Take out your TP-CASTT handout and your literary device glossary. (If you can’t find yours, they’re both posted online.)  Let’s take a look at Sonnet 18 – one of Shakespeare’s most FAMOUS sonnets.  Pay attention – we’ll do this one together, but soon you’ll be on your own!

17. Part II: Poetic FORM in Shakespearean Drama How does FORM impact understanding?

18. Poetic FORM found in Shakespearean Drama:  Prose: Written or spoken language in its natural form, not metered or structured (not poetry).  When PROSE is used:  In serious letters (Macbeth to Lady Macbeth; Hamlet to Horatio)  In proclamations, and in the speeches of minor characters  In relaxed conversation

19. Poetic FORM found in Shakespearean Drama:  BLANK VERSE: Unrhymed iambic pentameter.  When BLANK VERSE is used:  Used by the more important characters in a play.  Many of the most famous Shakespearean speeches are written in blank verse.  The rhythm of blank verse resembles the natural rhythm of the English language; however, it adds more refinement.

20. Poetic FORM found in Shakespearean Drama:  The use of SONNETS within plays:  SONNETS are used within Shakespearean plays for emphasis or to get the audience’s attention (chorus, significant moments in the play, etc.)  When Romeo first meets Juliet, the result is perfection – he and Juliet speak in a joint sonnet.

21. Poetic FORM found in Shakespearean Drama  Couplets:  Couplets are two lines of poetry that rhyme.  Shakespeare uses couplets to:  Cue backstage members of a scene change.  Signal an end of a scene.  Close out important/significant speeches (couplets may indicate that a moral/lesson has been presented).

22. Works Cited  PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.  "Shakespearean Sonnet Basics: Iambic Pentameter and the English Sonnet Style." Shakespearean Sonnet Basics: Iambic Pentameter and the English Sonnet Style. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.  "Shakespearean Verse and Prose." Shakespearean Verse and Prose. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.  "Structure & Surprise." Structure Surprise. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.  "William Shakespeare - Sonnet 18." YouTube. YouTube, 27 May 2009. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.